Healing with Beauty at HBCF

The Bay Area is recognized as one of the most gorgeous places in the United States, numerous visitors flock annually to San Francisco and all its stunning surrounding cities. But, beyond all the tourist attractions, lies the realization that it’s also recognized as the breast cancer capital of the world. Delivering a fresh approach to recovery, Fremont-based HERS Breast Cancer Foundation (HBCF) provides complete support to survivors that help them overcome treatment with beauty and dignity.

HBCF puts aside the traditional approach of solely focusing on research and finding a cure, instead we are a professionally accredited organization dedicated to supporting any woman healing from breast cancer by providing post surgical products and services, regardless of financial status or insurance carrier. We believe this helps support the healing journey and the continuum of breast cancer care.

Each of our four healing programs are backed by breast care specialists, wig consultants, a registered nurse, and the organization’s Executive Director is a former breast cancer surgeon from Brazil. These programs include:

• Bras for Body and Soul:  Provides a private and understanding environment for breast cancer survivors to be properly fitted for bras and prosthesis.
• We Support, You Survive: Provides post-mastectomy garments to underserved women affected by breast cancer in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• The Lymphedema Program: Assists breast cancer survivors by providing lymphedema garments for prevention and treatment of this condition.
• Hair with Care Program: Serves not only breast cancer survivors but any woman going through chemotherapy and loss of her hair.

To ensure our clients are comfortable with our services, each goes through a private fitting consultation performed by a certified breast care specialist that can last 45 minutes to an hour. The client is given several choices of garments in different shapes and sizes to choose from, so she can feel beautiful and confident about her recovery and its time well spent focusing on herself.  

At HBCF, we want to provide the best to our clients. As a non-profit organization, we fund our services with two annual fundraising events, our KEEP ABREAST Walk/Run Community Resources Expo and People with Purpose Awards Luncheon. People with Purpose is our annual awards luncheon that honors four key players from the breast cancer arena in the San Francisco Bay Area; bringing recognition to those who have truly made a difference in the lives of breast cancer survivors.

We are happy to announce our 13th Annual KEEP ABREAST event will take place on September 29th at the beautiful Quarry Lakes East Bay Regional Park. It brings out hundreds of participants including breast cancer patients, survivors, friends and family.  The event is an up-lifting day; beginning with an inspirational opening ceremony that includes the releasing of doves by a circle of breast cancer survivors includes the main event and concludes with the community expo, featuring sponsors and community booths.

This year, we were extremely flattered and honored to learn that two courageous young men have decided to dedicate four months to cycling from their hometown of Alaska all the way to South America, in efforts to raise $15,000 for us and bring awareness to breast cancer. Leading this endeavor is Neil Walsky, who decided to embark on this journey after being by his mother’s side as she battled breast cancer.  Joined by best friend Jesse Frechione, these two are welcoming any cyclists to join their journey as they ride through the Bay Area, September 18th – 23rd.

Our overall goal and mission is to enrich the lives of breast cancer survivors by providing appropriate products (bras, prosthesis, lymphedema garments and wigs) in a safe, comfortable and understanding environment. We are the only non-profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area involved with the continuum of breast cancer care and provide these services to ALL women, regardless of their ability to pay. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved with HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, we invite everyone to join us at the 13th Annual KEEP ABREAST. We are also still accepting sponsors for KEEP ABREAST.