Hello-
My background with this non-profit started in 2015, a year following my last treatment for breast cancer. Chris and I decided to participate in the CelebratePink 5K that September in Portsmouth, NH after I had come across a posting for it on Facebook. I had never run a 5K in my life prior to that day, but exercise had been important to me during recovery and it felt important that I have a milestone that was positive, That first year of the run Chris and I ran as Team Pollet , it was just the two of us and the community of people we met that year were phenomenal and we just kept going back. Last year the 9th Annual Team Pollet had 14 team members and raised over $1,500 for MyBCS. This June MyBCS asked me to join their Board and I happily accepted.
So, you are probably asking "Who are MyBCS? What do they do? Why are they different?" Here is why I got involved all those years ago.
My Breast Cancer Support's mission is to provide financial and emotional support to breast cancer patients and their families on the seacoast of New Hampshire and in southern Maine. We are assisting those individuals within our community that are in active treatment and are in need of financial support outside of their medical needs. I remember one of my many conversations with my doctors as they discussed 7 weeks of radiation, daily required trips to the hospital because treatment could not be missed once it started with multiple doctor follow ups. All I could think was how was I going to do all of this while working, assisting with my ailing father and raising a family. My tribe of family, neighbors and friends rose to the challenge and my kids were never without a ride, dinner was never missing and support was plentiful for me. Unfortunately that is not the case in all situations. Research demonstrates that financial hardship negatively impacts a patient's outcome as they face impossible choices of either forgoing medical treatment or failing to keep a roof over their head, heat their house, or feed their family. My Breast Cancer Support has partnered with Wentworth-Douglas Hospital, MaineHEalth Cancer Care, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Exeter Hospital, York Hospital and NE Cancer Specialists in Portsmouth and Kennebunk and are providing such programs as :
* Gas Grants - to ensure patients can travel to treatment. $200 gas cards from Irving Oil are provided to those eligible patients
* Patient assistance grants -which are awarded in the amount of up to $1,750. In 2022 this amount was increased from $1,500 to better meet the needs of
struggling families. Patients in need are identified by social workers and nurse navigators based on financial hardship. Grants are fulfilled by MBCS staff
and paid directly to vendors (no payments are given to patients). They are used to pay for mortgage/rent, utilities, home repairs, heating oil, gas, car
repairs, for the most vital and pressing needs.
* Hope chests are house at each partner hospital and provide patients with as-needed gift cards to gas stations, grocery store and restaurants. Over $20,000 in gift
cards are distributed annually.
* Care packages are given to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in our region by the nurse navigators at each center and it a showing of support to patients at a
critical time.
Chris and I are back, planning for the September 22nd CelebratePink 5K and again asking for your assistance in our fundraising efforts. Please consider joining our team that day for a pleasant run/walk or, if you can't make it, consider donating.
Thank you. Carolyn and Chris
