The Reach for Recovery foundation provides state cancer patients with prosthetics as well as emotional and practical support.
A LOCAL cancer foundation, Reach for Recovery, “spilled the tea” on how to fight cancer during their annual October breakfast on Saturday.
The foundation provides state patients with prosthetics as well as emotional and practical support at no charge through their Ditto Project.
The support group offers free-of-charge services to cancer survivors who are not in a position to afford it.
The foundation’s spokesperson, Sonya Kenny, said they have been easing the recovery process for survivors by assisting with the financial and emotional burden that accompanies the process.
“Reach for Recovery has been providing emotional and practical support to diagnosed breast cancer patients and their families for the past 56 years. These services are provided free of charge by trained volunteers who all have experienced the breast cancer journey,” said Kenny.
“Our volunteers are passionate about supporting women in recovery during their time of need. Through our DItto Project, we are able to provide state patients who have undergone a mastectomy, access to a subsidised silicone prosthesis. The provision of the prostheses have helped many women who are in recovery regain their confidence.”
She added that many women, however, lack basic resources when they are provided with the prosthesis.
“The prosthetics are manufactured in different sizes and three different colours. We have, however, found that many of our beneficiaries do not have a proper brassiere (bra) that supports the prosthetics in order to create a natural look. It is after identifying this challenge that we launched our annual October breakfast in order to raise funds to buy proper bras for women who are in need of one.
“The funds from the breakfast will also be utilised to purchase cosmetics for state patients. We also use the event to educate and raise awareness about breast cancer. The event is also to showcase women’s camaraderie and to give a shoulder to the women who are in recovery.”
Kenny said the foundation aims to make the diagnosis and recovery process a lot less scary and emotional.
“During the process, we explain to women about the possible changes their bodies will go through during the recovery. Since all our volunteers have gone through the process, the beneficiaries can easily relate to them.
“We also utilise funds to provide beneficiaries with a care bag, which consists of a pillow that they can place under their arm after undergoing an operation. Each of our volunteers also stays in contact with patients through phone calls or messages to keep track of their recovery.”
Kenny assured cancer patients that they need not feel isolated during the diagnosis and recovery process.
“We need to support each other, even in the toughest times. It is through such processes that we can showcase the strength of a woman. We are happy to have been in a position to provide this gift to women, which has given them a priceless opportunity to continue their fight,” Kenny concluded.
