October 2024 Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been very successful for BCN. The contributions from local WNY businesses is always amazing, and we are truly grateful for the donations. 100% of all donations stay right here in WNY and will go towards metastatic breast cancer research, TLC Totes and funding our programs for our thrivers and survivors.

Check out interviews from our Program Director, Rachel Wallmeyer and Executive Director Rob Jones speak about TLC Totes and what BCN does.

Join us in welcoming two new BCN staff members, Rachel Wallmeyer and Miranda Perez.

Rachel previously worked at Roswell Park as a Patient Navigator in the breast clinic and will take on the new role of Program Director.

Miranda, currently a marketing consultant for BCN, was previously employed as Marketing Specialist for AutoNation and is earning her MBA at University at Buffalo. She will be BCN’s Marketing and Business Director.

We are also happy to announce two new members to our Board of Directors. Desiree Parker, owner of DLC Consulting, was named Treasurer in January and Dawn Schlee, Director of Womens’ Services for Us Radiology (Windsong), was named an At Large member in February.

All of us at BCN are proud to welcome Rachel, Miranda, Desiree, and Dawn to the BCN Team and know they will help us grow into an even stronger organization supporting Western New Yorkers impacted by breast cancer.

BCN was recently awarded a grant by the New York State Department of Health which will fund special programming in support of women of color who are transitioning from breast cancer treatment to survivorship. The grant is for a five year period beginning March 1 and is for a total of $400,000. BCN was one of only three awardees in New York State.

The grant will fund support groups, individual counseling, and peer mentoring for women who are completing their breast cancer treatments. Lakia Johnson, LMSW and Oncology Social Worker at ECMC, will provide the counseling for the program and Dr. Melissa Wanzer, Oncology Survivorship Program Manager for Great Lakes Cancer Care Collaborative, will lead BCN’s efforts for the peer mentoring component.

The new support groups and counseling will begin in April and will be a combination of in-person and Zoom sessions.