Support Connection began as a dream - a dream to offer free, confidential support services to people affected by breast and/or ovarian cancer in Westchester, Putnam and beyond. In October of 1995, a group of dedicated, spirited individuals, with advice from SHARE, a Manhattan based organization supporting people with breast and ovarian cancer, organized a Share-A-Walk at FDR Park in Yorktown. With the money raised from that Walk, Support Connection was established in July 1996.

In the fall of 1996, with two desks, a telephone, fax machine, and a donated computer, along with volunteers eager to help others, we were ready to carry out our mission. We began our first breast and ovarian cancer support groups, run by trained facilitators, all survivors of these diseases. We have since added numerous other programs and services, and have reached out to Westchester, Putnam and nearby counties. We also have a toll-free cancer support Hotline, national teleconferencing and a website, enabling us to reach people throughout the U.S.

Our One-on-One Peer Counseling Program enables people to speak directly with a trained Peer Counselor, a cancer survivor who has traveled the journey already. Peer Counselors offer information about breast and ovarian cancer; ongoing emotional support; community resources and referrals; connections to other women with similar situations. We offer monthly breast and ovarian cancer support groups that are led by trained facilitators who are cancer survivors. We hold ongoing programs so women with cancer can meet for a common purpose (such as knitting circle or book club) and connect with one another in a relaxing setting. We also offer numerous wellness and educational workshops that empower women with cancer to better cope with recovery and treatment while continuing with their day-to-day lives, such as programs in yoga, meditation, fitness, nutrition, etc.

We continue to host annual Walks, known as the Support-A-Walk, to increase awareness about breast and ovarian cancer, celebrate life, and raise money to fund our free support services. Attendance at the Walk has risen from 800 participants in 1995 to over 9,000 participants last year.

We accomplish our goals with a dedicated staff and Board of Directors, facilitators and peer counselors who have helped us build a caring and dependable foundation for people whose lives have been touched by breast and ovarian cancer. We are grateful to our strong corps of office and Walk volunteers who have logged more than 20,000 hours since January of 1998. We are proud to state that close to 90% of all donations go directly into maintaining and enhancing our free, confidential programs and services.

Support Connection offers resources for people to make informed decisions about their healthcare. While
demand for our services continues to grow, the personalized support we provide will never change.

Respect for people’s privacy and listening carefully in order to meet individual needs is our priority. Our mission is always foremost in our minds as we practice the power of caring, offering a spirit of hope to anyone who seeks our help.