HERS Breast Cancer Foundation :: Bras for Body & Soul

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The HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) a non-profit organization, provides programs and services supporting the needs of women and families affected by breast cancer in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bras for Body & Soul is a specialty bra shop and extended services for all women, including women who have had breast surgery, in order to make a positive difference in women's lives.

News >> Cancer Quilt Weaves Hope

by Marian Liu, Staff Writer
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose California
This story first appeared in the SJMN on Thursday, October 11, 2001. Republished by permission of the SJMN.

As more and more friends and family were diagnosed with breast cancer, Tricia McMahon decided to turn her pain into a symbol of remembrance and hope.

Along with her friend, Cheryl A. Maloney, she created a quilt filled with patches that contain the names of women who have died from, are battling with or have survived breast cancer. They call it the Threads of Hope Breast Cancer Quilt Project.

Wednesday from noon to 3:30 p.m., people can stop by the Washington Hospital Community Health Resource Library at 2500 Mowry Ave. in Fremont to sign a pink ribbon on the quilt in memory or in honor of someone they know. The quilt is available for viewing at the library all this month.

"There are the threads of the quilt which weaves us all together, sharing our lives, our stories, and our hope,'' McMahon said.

For the past four years, McMahon has taken the quilt all over the Bay Area for talks about breast cancer. The front is filled with squares sewn on at the many meetings she goes to, but the back contains the names of 500 people, with room for hundreds more.

One of these names is Bernie Dutra's, wife of Assemblyman John. A. Dutra, D-Fremont, and a longtime Fremont resident.

Three years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and went through surgery in January of 1999. After radiation treatment last February, there have been no recurrences.

"Signing the quilt was the end of the journey,'' Bernie Dutra said.

Along with the quilt project, McMahon has established a monthly support gathering for breast cancer survivors, family, friends and caregivers. They meet the third Thursday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Anne's Episcopal Church on Driscoll Road. This monthly meeting has evolved into an organization, the HERS (Hope, Empowerment, Renewal, Support) Foundation, a non-profit serving breast cancer survivors and loved ones in Fremont, Union City and Newark.

McMahon sees the quilt as an important way to not only get through cancer but through the recent tragic events of Sept. 11.

"With all the things going on in the world right now, we really need experiences of the heart that bring us together and evoke love.''