About Breast Friends
 These breast cancer survivors are young, active,
engaging, creative and incredibly driven. All belong to a
social network (the term support group just doesn't apply)
called “Breast Friends” started in 2003 by Jacqui Bryan.
What started as four women in Jacqui's living room has grown
into an email list with 80-plus members. Every month, 20-30
members meet at various homes to informally talk, eat, drink
and sometimes kayak, do yoga, listen to speakers or
brainstorm. New members join and can discuss their
diagnosis, get answers to questions that they hesitate to
ask their doctors, and to see firsthand that life goes on
and sometimes gets better after breast cancer. This is what
one Breast Friends member calls, “a kick-ass group of
women.”
After treatment, some have started companies; had babies;
switched careers; competed in triathalons, bike races and
road races; and raised a lot of money for breast cancer
research and treatment. Between them, the women in this
group have founded a website for breast cancer patients to
share their stories online (www.breastcancerstories.com), an
adventure weekend program for breast cancer survivors (www.bjbbreastcancerretreats.org),
a day-long concert that raises money for breast cancer (www.seacoastconcertforacure.com),
a team-building adventure program for kids whose lives have
been touched by cancer (www.on-belay.org), a tennis
tournament to raise money for breast cancer (www.bridgesresort.com/TABC)
and a fleece sock and mitten company that donates a portion
of its profits to breast cancer research (www.mowhereinmaine.com).
A new venture started by the group, Fill the Gap, is working
in conjunction with area hospitals to staff a 24-hour triage
hotline for newly-diagnosed patients.
All money raised by the sale of the calendar benefit
organizations founded and supported by the group. |
