Join the Journey

“Expenses office 4,630 information technology 1,273 insurance 2,850 telephone 1,492 direct program expenses 13,437 hospitality 438 marketing 2,060 total 26,180”

“Equipment 15,274 15,274 less accumulated depreciation 15,274 15,274 total 0 0”

“To reach women of all ages in the rochester community with information about breast cancer awareness and to provide support to newly diagnosed women with breast cancer. To accomplish this, join the journey sponsors projects and programs to provide community education/outreach and direct patient support.”

“Pink ribbon mentorship program: this is a volunteer mentorship program, which provides on and off site emotional, informational, and experiential support to women and men undergoing breast cancer treatment. On site mentors are available 9:30am- 4:30pm monday through friday to visit with patients after breast cancer surgery and in the chemotherapy suite while patients are receiving their treatment. Telephone, email and off site face to face visits are also part of the mentorship services. This program assisted over 877 breast cancer survivors in 2022, volunteering over 2,500 hours, 29 mentors assisted with this program. They also distribute moonlight pillows to breast cancer patients recovering from surgery. The pillows protect post surgical incisions while sleeping and provides support and protection to tender areas following surgery and while receiving chemo therapy and radiation. 1,180 pillows were distributed in 2022. Drain aprons program: drain aprons are provided to patients after surgery. They provide a more comfortable way to hold post-surgical drains. 470 aprons were distributed in 2022. Other mentorship programs are the breast cancer survivor group and the young survivors support group. These programs provide emotional support ,guidance and personal knowledge as well as a network of information based on their own experiences. Each group had more than 50 participants in 2022.”

“Survivors dinner: the breast cancer support group's celebration dinner is a well attended annual event in october. It is a time where newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors feel hope when they share a meal with other survivors, and learn that they are in the company of women who have been doing well after many years, often as much as a decade or more. Connections are made between survivors and new friendships are formed. Resources are shared and discussed. To make the evening even more fun and uplifting, the dinner usually includes a performance by local musicians who either donate their time or are willing to entertain us at a substantial discount. Looking at the history of the celebration dinner is a testament to its value in the breast cancer survivor community. It has been happening and has been well attended for over 35 years, even through the pandemic when it was not possible to gather face to face. The venue has changed over the years, but the importance of this event to survivors has not. 42 survivors attended the celebration dinner in 2022.”

“Making waves program: this is a floating support group of join the journey. Research has shown that breast cancer survivors who engage in repetitive activities, such as paddling, develop a marked improvement in both physical and mental health. Equipped with the positive effects of dragon boating, a group of enthusiastic breast cancer survivors and supporters paddle every wednesday evening in the summer on silver lake in rochester, minnesota and hold quarterly social events. The team continues to meet in the winter months working on stretching and strength training. The team also competes in races around the area and represents join the journey in local parades. Our dragon boat holds a crew of 21 and we had 180 total participants.”

“Vision of hope breast cancer support group: a welcoming environment for all individuals affected by breast cancer. This group is run by 2 breast cancer survivors and was meeting via zoom the first wednesday of the month in 2022. An average of 6 breast cancer patients and survivors attend each meeting. Moving forward breast cancer support group: providing suppor, connections and courage for those moving forward with non-metastatic breast cancer. This group meets via zoom every monday at 7pm. Join the journey seventeenth annual ten mile breast cancer awareness walk: this fundraiser held online for 2022 raises awareness about breast cancer and provides the community with information and direct support from our organization. Proceeds from the walk support join the journeys many programs including essential gift bags, pink ribbon mentors, making waves program and the breast cancer support groups.in 2022 a virtual walk was held in october.”