Teens form nonprofit to fight breast cancer
Breast Friends Forever supports women diagnosed & families
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer

Mike Ruane and Erika Rech stand outside a store to raise money for Breast Friends Forever, an organization that raises money to aid families.

MIDDLETOWN — Erika Rech and Mike Ruane are cousins who are BFFs, not best friends forever, but Breast Friends Forever.

In October 2006, the Middletown cousins, who are both 16, found out that one of their family members had been diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer.

Six months later, a second family member was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

Throughout diagnosis and treatment, Erika and Mike witnessed firsthand the devastating effect that cancer can have on a family.

"In October 2006, my mom was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer," Rech said. "Six months after that, one of my aunts was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Then my other aunt soon after had a prophylactic mastectomy because she had precancerous cells."

The teens then formed a nonprofit to help families navigate through a cancer diagnosis by providing resources and emotional and financial support.

"We've been surrounded by chemo, radiation and hospital visits our entire lives," Rech said. "We wanted to help."

Erika is sophomore at High Tech High School in Lincroft, while Mike is a sophomore at Middletown High School North.

Through their determination, Breast Friends Forever was created.

Mike and Erika said that they rely solely on donations to fund their cause.

"We have been trying a lot of different things to raise money," Ruane said. "We've been going to Hazlet soccer games and around Brookdale.

On Oct. 11, they held a fundraiser at the Blue Tulip shop on Route 35, which donated 15 percent of sales for the day to Breast Friends Forever.

They also sold T-shirts to help raise money.

In the past the group has sold candy and Tshirts at St. Mary's Church as well.

"Our goal is to devote as much time as we can," Ruane said. "Every dime we make goes to the families."

Ruane's mother, Marianne, estimated that the organization has already raised $8,000 to $9,000 and plans on raising more in the future.

Breast Friends Forever will be holding a gala on March 7, 2009, their first black-tie event at the Jacques Reception Center in Middletown. Tickets will be $150 a person.

"Right now we are looking to make as much money as we can," Marianne Ruane said. "The gala should be an amazing event."

Mike and Erika formed Breast Friends Forever, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to raise funds to give directly to families in need who are dealing with breast cancer.

Carol Rech, Erika's mother, said the two teens pooled their own money together to afford the $500-plus fee for 501(c)(3) status, a large amount of money for two freshmen in high school.

"We both chipped in what money we had to get the status," Ruane said. "We have a board in the nonprofit that is basically comprised of family members and friends."

Rech said that the group is a support system for families.

"The way the doctors helped my mom, I want to be able to help other families," Rech said. The two high school students began researching nonprofits and raising money for families during their freshman year. They made their first donation in August 2007.

The nonprofit provides monetary support for expenses ranging from wigs and prosthetics to medications and transportation.

"My bills were over $500,000 and I can't imagine a family having to come up with that money themselves," Carol Rech said. "We are trying to give them the help that they need."

They also provide advice and support for things like insurance issues, treatment experiences and support groups.

The organization's mission statement, according to their Web site, is, "The goal of Breast Friends Forever is to support those individuals and their families who have been diagnosed with, and are fighting, Breast Cancer, deal with the consequences of this diagnosis by providing emotional, intellectual, spiritual and financial support and resources in their time of need."

The Web site, www.breastfriendsforever. org, provides tips on how to talk to children about a someone being diagnosed with breast cancer and the importance of self-examinations.

Carol Rech emphasized the importance of self-examination for detection of breast cancer.

"If you have any suspicion that you may have found something, check yourself out," Rech said. "Catching it early is important."

During October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Breast Friends Forever are trying to reach out to as many people as possible to raise awareness and funds.

"It's important that we spread the word any way we can," Erika said.

Contact Jamie Romm at jromm@gmnews.com.