Support group provides 200 gift bags for travelling cancer patients

Members of a local support group for women impacted by breast cancer are excited to share the success they had with a special fundraiser they organized for patients who travel for radiation treatment.

As SooToday readers learned in February, “Breasts Friends Sault Ste. Marie” has been raising money and putting together care packages for cancer patients to take with them on the road when they travel for treatment.

The idea was thanks to Lynne Palumbo, a retired educational assistant who wanted to assist patients who had to drive to Sudbury while the Sault Area Hospital installs a new radiation unit, which is expected to be operational by mid-August.

The unit has been unavailable since February, meaning upwards of 200 residents undergoing treatment have been making the 300-kilometre trek each way, many of whom must travel multiple times.

Breast Friends founder and breast cancer survivor Karen Brunetta told SooToday her group just sent the last of the 200 special bags to the hospital this past Tuesday.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” she said. “Knowing that we’re able to help others who have been in similar situations as ourselves really brings a sense of accomplishment to us, and hopefully a sense of community to the patients who are undergoing their treatments right now.”

The bags include a wide variety of items, including reading and colouring books, journals, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, crayons, pens and pencils, playing cards, hand cream, fuzzy socks, Tim Hortons gift cards, gum, snacks, and homemade goodies.

Equating to just over $20 in fundraising per bag, Breast Friends raised enough money to package their first 50 bags back in February.

Since that time, the donations have kept pouring in. Members collected far beyond their goal, meaning they were able to package three more times and ultimately send out 200 goody bags to the hospital.

“We’re hopeful the patients have been enjoying them,” Brunetta said. “We’ve had lots of positive feedback. I’ve heard from the nurse in Oncology and Radiation, and she said so many patients have been so grateful. Lynne also received a beautiful letter from one of the patients and it was just so nice.”

The fundraiser did so well that Breast Friends had a $2,100 donation overage.

All of those funds will be donated to Tracy’s Dream — a local non-profit that covers the parking costs for cancer patients and their families at the Sault Area Hospital.

“The generosity was overwhelming,” Brunetta said. “We were so grateful for every donation, and to everyone who donated.”

“If it weren’t for Lynne having that little idea, this never would have come to fruition,” she added.

Breast Friends Sault Ste. Marie has grown to 71 active members as of July. The group sees upwards of 25 members gathering for dinners every month.