Nemesis Fitness Breast Cancer Awareness 5k.

INTRODUCTION
After a breast cancer diagnosis, a woman or man returns home feeling lost, overwhelmed and alone. She is typically unsure of who to tell, who to turn to for help and how to become more informed about how this disease will affect her health and her future. US Breast Cancer Statistics estimates that 287,850 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2022, another 51,400 women will be diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer and about 2,710 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Over 13,000 women in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year and over 300 of them will reside right here in Berks County. With breast cancer being the second leading cause of death in women, the need for support, information and access to resources is of utmost importance. Without support, those affected by breast cancer may feel overwhelmed with managing their physical, mental and emotional health, their financial situation, caring for their families and more. Breast cancer affects each woman (and man) differently, which is why Breast Cancer Support Services (BCSS) of Berks County works to offer assistance to those who are battling or have survived breast cancer, their family members and their caregivers. We seek to support everyone involved in a breast cancer diagnosis: the survivor, family members, and caregivers. Survivors of BCSS never fight alone.

HISTORY
In the fall of 1993, local breast cancer survivors and family members of women with breast cancer recognized the tremendous need in Berks County for support and educational services. These women joined forces and Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County was established. BCSS began operating in July 1994, and in December of that year BCSS moved into an office in West Reading. Since then, many programs and services have been added and we have outgrown two offices at our current location adding additional suites to meet the growing needs of our local survivors. The outreach that BCSS has been able to accomplish since our founding in 1994 has been nothing short of incredible and will continue to grow in the future, with the support of our community.

WHO WE ARE TODAY
BCSS’ main goal is to provide educational and beneficial services to our community survivors and to aid them throughout a difficult and confusing time in their lives, by answering questions, offering resources and creating support groups. We are a valuable resource to the medical community and insurance companies. While we do not provide medical treatment, we educate women on other components of their health and future wellbeing. We support a woman’s decision in how she wants to proceed with her treatment, whether that be with holistic methods, chemotherapy or other forms of treatment.

There are approximately 300 women diagnosed annually in Berks County with breast cancer. Our survivors are a diverse and passionate group of women. We welcome all survivors – from the newly diagnosed, to those battling recurrent or metastatic disease, to long-term survivors. They are straight, lesbian, single, partnered, with children and without.

There is no other organization like BCSS in Berks County. Our work is crucial to our community, as it provides hope, comfort and care throughout a time when many may feel alone. We serve hundreds of women and men in Berks County who come from various backgrounds and cultures, and we pride ourselves in offering inclusive and accessible resources to all. With the continued growth of our organization, we hope to use our strengths and our passion to expand the resources we offer for years to come. We are a valuable resource to hospitals, medical professionals, and the larger community bridging the gap between medical care and treatment by providing compassionate support during and after treatment. Our dedicated staff and volunteers serve hundreds of women in Berks County annually. We are committed to serving survivors from their diagnosis throughout their journey.

MISSION
Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County is a non-profit organization that provides hope, information and emotional support to every person affected by breast cancer.

VISION
To be the go-to organization to provide local support, resources, services, and hope for every person affected by breast cancer. We campaign for improvement in standards of support and care by being an independent voice to advocate for your needs through every stage of your journey. We offer programs and resources that support the mind, body and spirit of those affected by breast cancer.

CORE VALUES
Compassion is everything: We listen, respect, and care. We see and appreciate each individual’s experience.

Passion: We show up with energy and enthusiasm.

Quality: We are committed to excellence. We seek out expertise and competence in all operations and services.

Empowerment: We are survivor driven. We encourage people to advocate for themselves. We engage the power of peer support. We offer tools and education to enhance each person’s experience.

Cultivation of Relationships: We are stronger together. We believe in the value of working and growing with our community near and far. We bring a collaborative spirit and value diverse ideas and perspectives.

Innovation: We understand the need to stay up to date. We are always learning new strategies to enhance growth and positive outcomes. We strive to stay current with new developments in all that we do and listen to the needs of our survivors.

WHAT WE DO
Support Groups: All of our support groups are a valuable space for women regardless of what stage they are in on their breast cancer journey. Friends, family and caretakers are also welcome to attend. Programs include…

• Pink Power Nights: Monthly meetings for breast cancer survivors. Guest speakers discuss important information with survivors, covering a variety of topics. These meetings provide a place for survivors to unite with one another and find companionship with other survivors.

• Newly Diagnosed: Group designed to assist women with emotional support and timely education, to help manage the stress of diagnosis and treatment.

• YSC (Young Survival Coalition) Face 2 Face: For those under the age of 45, this group specializes in answering questions and offering support to young women affected by breast cancer. Questions surrounding fertility, intimacy, being a mother, being a single woman and other challenges are discussed.

• Thrivers: BCSS has partnered with METAvivor to offer a support group for thrivers with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.

• Soul Survivors: Formed in 2019 to reduce breast cancer disparities for African American women by providing hope, outreach and education, emotional and social support so that members can also delve further into topics regarding race and culture and how that relates to their diagnosis.

• El Poder del Rosado: Group for Spanish speaking and Latinx women in Berks County to ensure that they have access to the information that they need in Spanish and discuss cancer with their community.

Additional means of support…

• Comfort Bags: Given to women and men at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, these bags are designed to help provide comfort during a confusing time. Each Comfort Bag is prepared in the BCSS office by volunteers and includes practical and soothing items to provide comfort while in active treatment and beyond. Often times when a survivor receives their Comfort Bag it is the first time that they hear about BCSS.

• The Survivors Aid Fund: After a breast cancer diagnosis, the financial impact can be devastating. The inability to go to work and provide for one’s family, paired with medical and practical costs, can result in a financial hardship. BCSS has a limited amount of funds available to assist survivors with financial help during treatment, and we provide one-time grants of up to $500 to help with monthly bills.

• Counseling Assistance Program: Any individual who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, is in active treatment or in post-treatment and/or their family members/caregivers are eligible to apply for three sessions with a licensed mental health professional. The counseling sessions are designed to encompass not only the patient, but those who love her.

• The Fitting Room Wig and Prosthesis Bank: Providing breast cancer patients and survivors undergoing treatment with a wide range of personal comfort items at no cost that reduce the physical and emotional impact cancer and cancer treatments can have.

• Lending Library: This is one of Berks County’s most extensive library of books and videos on breast cancer with over 200 books, videos and pamphlets that community members can check out.

WHY WE NEED SUPPORT
We provide all programs and services at no charge to local breast cancer survivors and every year we have the responsibility of raising 100% of our annual operating budget.

Our future goals include expanding our resources and support groups to further include and support family members and caretakers of those who have been affected by breast cancer. Not many organizations offer support for those close to the ones affected by cancer, and it is important that they receive support as well. The implementation of services for these groups will expand the community involved with BCSS. We also want to expand many of the services that we already offer, including our Soul Survivor and our El Poder del Rosado programs, further reaching some of our underserved communities.

BCSS is not a revenue-generating organization and therefore must become solvent by accessing yearly funding from consistent donors and new funding from organizations and private donors. Since the inception of our organization in 1994, we have been 100% operational via charitable support. We receive no government funding and we are not a United Way charity. We depend upon individual and business charitable contributions, special events, fundraisers and grant funds to serve individuals in need.

Until there is a cure for breast cancer there is a community need for BCSS.

WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT US
Everyone knows someone that has been either directly or indirectly affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Our donors greatly contribute to the success and growth of our organization. Without them, we would not be able to continue to offer resources to our community.

Since our founding in 1994, Breast Cancer Support Services has never wavered from its unique mission of helping those impacted by breast cancer heal emotionally by offering support services and educational programs to empower, educate and help breast cancer survivors thrive. We put breast cancer survivors at the center of everything we do and offer a variety of tools and resources. As the needs of our survivors change we need to be prepared to meet those needs and provide the resources that will afford them the opportunity to flourish throughout their individual journey’s and create new friendships where they can support each other along the way.

Currently, BCSS is a $300,000 per year organization; in the next five years, our goal is to increase the size of our organization by 40% - 50% ensuring that we are able to continue providing the programs and services that support not only the survivor but also their family members and caregivers. In order to accomplish this, we need continued funding from our supporters and donors. Donations are not just used for program implementation; we also use our funds to create focus groups, expand outreach and promote awareness of both BCSS and our work for the breast cancer community here in Berks County. All these initiatives will assist in us learning what services our community wants to see and how we can best serve them moving forward. However, that is impossible to do without the support of our donors, and expansion of our donor base.

For every Berks County woman or man who hears the words “you have breast cancer,” the diagnosis would be more frightening, overwhelming and confusing without BCSS to turn to for information and emotional support. Help us bring these women and men the hope and comfort that they need.

SURVIVOR TESTIMONIALS:

“A couple of months ago my dear friend Jayne Cumiskey notified you of my newly diagnosed breast cancer. I subsequently received the much appreciated “Comfort Bag” delivered by Lisa during one of my chemo sessions. Two of the most useful and very appreciated items were and still are the two pillows during my recent period of recovery from surgery… Also, I have enjoyed reading the included book, “Just Get Me Through This” – many useful hints!!!!! Please, accept my check as a small token of my appreciation. Thank You to all the volunteers and staff who contributed to this pleasant surprise bag of goodies!!!!!”

“To everyone @ BCSS, Thank you so much for all of the support you have given me as I faced my diagnosis. My case is very treatable but I know that is not always the case. Your resources, literature and care bag means so much to me.”

“To the Women of Breast Cancer Support Services, From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the comfort Bag. A very thoughtful thing for those in need. Thank you.”

“To all the wonderful ladies at BCSS of Berks,                                                                                       I received my comfort bag and what a beautiful gift it was. After receiving the news of having breast cancer and yet not knowing any of you and all the support you give is such a blessing. I have used everything in that bag! Still using the pillows and what a life server they are. And the last thing I used was the beautiful pillowcase. I saved it for the first evening after my husband and son shaved my head due to hair loss. While the tears flowed for a few minutes they turned to joy knowing we are all in this together and what great support I have. Knowing my head was going to rest on a pillowcase of someone not even knowing me and who was gracious enough to take her time for me is simply amazing.

Dear BCSS Berks, I recently diagnosed with breast cancer and received a lovely Comfort Bag from your organization. Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts and the invitations to Pink Power nights and/or the phone calls and the support line. I can tell that every item placed in the bag was chosen with care and concern. Thank you to all who had a hand in this. My diagnosis is but a few days old and it’s comforting to know that, besides my family, there is a support system to help and guide me. Thank you.”

“Hello! I wanted to send a personal note as I was a recent recipient of your services. Thank you so much for all that you do. Your organization is a beacon of hope and light during trying times.

“I am writing this letter to go along with my contribution to BCSS. Your organization has been a godsend to me. When I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer, I just could not believe it was happening to me. No one knows what it’s like to experience “CANCER” until it happens to you. Your support has meant so much to me over the last few months.

I really appreciate all your organizations does to help alleviate the pain of knowing you have this terrible disease and not knowing what to expect in the days to come. Everyone there has been through it and can understand what you are feeling.

The support group meetings for the newly diagnosed patients was very informative and I have with your organization and hope that I can be a comfort to someone else in the future. Thanks again for all you do.”