Breast Cancer Support Fund
The Breast Cancer Support Fund is a national, volunteer-driven charity with a mission to reduce the financial burden for breast cancer patients on their journey to wellness.
The truth about breast cancer is the financial burdens can be just as devastating as the physical and emotional impact. The Breast Cancer Support Fund eases the financial burden for low- income breast cancer patients so they can focus on getting well because no one should have to fight breast cancer and poverty at the same time.
The Breast Cancer Support Fund provides two programs that directly address the financial needs of low-income breast cancer patients, most of whom are living in poverty during the time they are in treatment:
The Financial Assistance Program is a national program that provides grants to help patients pay for rent, groceries utilities, medications, prosthetics, transportation and childcare.
The Meal Support Program provides healthy, nutritious, prepared meals to low-income breast cancer patients delivered directly to their home – at no cost. (available in Ontario and Atlantic Canada)
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I apologize if it took me long to email you to thank you for the cheque you mailed. Trying to recover from treatments plus a toddler running around— life is just very hectic! I wish I could say more than a simple thank you. The work you are doing to our community is selfless, courageous and INSPIRING. I can’t thank you enough for the kindness, support and generosity you’ve extended to me and to my family. WE are endlessly grateful. Thank you! GOD BLESS.
Sincerely, Abigail -
Thank you so very much for the financial and mental support. This has meant the absolute world to me and my family. The financial support has helped me to keep with the cost of living and focus on treatment. I was struggling to keep up with my bills and trying to raise children, I didn't know if I could start radiation because I couldn't afford to remain off work. I couldn't think about starting radiation which is 2 hours from where I live when I couldn't afford the treatments I am getting here in town. The basic cost of living then getting to and from the hospital and parking really added up when I did chemo. Thank you for understanding and truly helping me.
JP -
It is an overwhelmingly frightening time in a person’s life when they hear they have cancer. Their entire world has changed and nothing seems normal or safe. But the public doesn’t often understand the devastating impact financially that occurs for many. The women that I have referred to this program have always been independent women who helped others rather than needing help. Now they find themselves having to choose between rent and food. This is not an exaggeration. The BCSF is one of the vital supports that enable women to survive on a day-to-day basis while they are striving to save their lives
Andrea TurnerPenticton Oncology Clinic Social Worker, British Columbia -
I wish to send you a heartfelt thank you for the financial aid that I recently received from BCSF. Your support has helped me tremendously, both by easing the ongoing stress and by making my daily struggles more manageable. Having lived six years ‘cancer free’ only to be recently re-diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, I was not prepared for life’s changes and adjustments that were to ensue. Being single and living with these emotional and financial hardships are very overwhelming as I’m sure you can imagine. BCSF’s financial support has truly been a blessing and a wonderful reminder that there are people and organizations that do care and want to help. Thank you so much for helping me. Everything for the last year has been going wrong in my life. This is the first good thing to happen that I can remember for some time.
JP
The Bras Family Foundation, a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of breast cancer patients, was an early believer in our work, and their dedicated support has truly made a difference for low-income breast cancer patients facing a financial crisis while battling breast cancer with their support of our Financial Assistance Program and Meal Support Program.
Financial assistance grants help patients pay for basic living expenses such as food and shelter as well as medications, prosthetics, wigs, transportation costs, hospital parking, restorative therapies and medical devices. The Meal Support Program delivers nutritious prepared meals to patients at no cost. (Available in Ontario and Atlantic Canada)
With the support of the Bras Family Foundation, we help low-income breast cancer patients reduce stress during treatment so they can focus on treatment and recovery.
With a grateful heart,
Donna Sheehan
Founder, executive director, breast cancer survivor
Of the more than 30,000 women and 300 men diagnosed with breast cancer this year, many are financially insecure prior to being diagnosed; business-owners, single parents, students, people on social assistance, people whose employment depends on contract work in the gig economy.
With the generous support of the Bras Family Foundation, we supported the following breast cancer patients this past year:
Emma is a 36-year-old single mother. She has two kids (16, 9) and takes care of her mother who is in poor health. Emma worked through chemotherapy treatment because she couldn’t afford not to.
Sara is a 63-year-old single woman who lives in Cornerbrook NL. We supported Sonia as she received radiation treatment, which is only available in Sr John’s, almost 500 miles from home.
Anna is a 32-year-old single who lives with a roommate. She is of Turkish descent but does not have any family in Canada that could support her. She underwent months of chemo after having bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction prior to months of chemotherapy.
Ellie is a 42-year-old divorced, single mother of two (6,8) who worked as a peer support worker for man elderly man. The man she cared for went into a home and his family is letting her and her children live in the home at a very reduced rate while she completes her treatment.
Emma, aged 29 and a single mother of two young children, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was on maternity leave. The social worker who signed Emma’s application wrote us a letter on her behalf, describing Emma as a wonderful young mother who has been struggling financially as she supports herself and her two children on a very low income. Emma received $2,000 in financial assistance.
Tara, aged 42 is the mother of a 3 year old. The family has endured a number of financial hardships that has left them struggling financially for the past few years and still find it difficult to cover the costs of basic necessities. We provided $2,000 in financial assistance to Tara.
Sara was first diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 28. At that time, on her application form, part of her financial burden was because she was carrying a student loan. In fact, when she was diagnosed again three years later, she indicated she was still carrying debt from her first diagnosis. Despite being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and with hope in her heart, Sarah got married. We provided Sarah with $3,000 in financial assistance.
Breast Cancer Support Fund
39 Old Mill Rd. # 1002
Toronto ON M8X 1G6
416.233.7410
www.breastcancersupportfund.ca
Charitable Registration No. 83661-2804-RR0001