The Pink Fund Press

In the latest episode of the Empowerography Podcast, my guest is Molly MacDonald. Molly MacDonald knows what it’s like to battle the financial burdens of breast cancer while undergoing treatment to battle the disease. Diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in April 2005, the disease was unlikely to take her life, but did take her livelihood. She was between jobs and was unable to start her new job as planned. Her family’s already tight budget was immediately overburdened with the addition of a monthly COBRA health insurance payments coupled with the loss of her income. Within months, MacDonald and her family faced the potential for catastrophic financial losses, including the loss their home. At the end of treatment when family and friends stopped delivering dinner, MacDonald was forced to use a local food bank to feed her family. When MacDonald’s quest to Get Help was met with blank stares, she became determined to Give Help to others suffering from lost income as a result of their diagnosis and treatment. In 2006 she founded The Pink Fund, which provides 90 days of non-medical financial aid to cover basic cost of living expenses, such as health insurance, housing, transportation and utilities. By providing this financial bridge, The Pink Fund helps to meet basic needs, while decreasing stress levels. These factors improve treatment adherence, improving survivorship outcomes and quality of life. In this episode we discuss breast cancer advocacy, resilience, the power of prayer, male breast cancer, misconceptions about breast cancer and being in and of service to others. Listen here.

Behind that beautiful warm smile and humble spirit is an amazing woman. “My mom passed in 2000 so I had to get custody of my five siblings plus I have a son of my own, so I was 23 with five kids,” said Eudora Ward. There are times Eudora Ward has battled through life. “When you don't know who your natural father is, and mother died so young, and you are the oldest, you look for love,” said Ward. But she never imagined a routine mammogram would give her results that would place her in a fight for her life. “In July of 2017 they found a lump,” said Ward. “It wasn't me feeling it in the shower or anything, it was because I went and got a mammogram.” A month later, Eudora would receive two lumpectomies and advice from her doctor to start chemo, radiation, and a 5-year pill regimen. She declined and still putting others before herself. Then two years after surgery the cancer returned...

In 2019, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services estimated that over 9,000 Michigan women would be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of the year. The Pink Fund, founded by breast cancer survivor Molly MacDonald, is a local nonprofit that provides between $60,000 and $85,000 in financial assistance to breast cancer patients each month. MacDonald was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and found herself facing financial burdens due to her cancer treatments. “It was from my own personal experience with breast cancer that I realized how badly an organization like this was needed,” said Molly MacDonald, founder of The Pink Fund. “I’ve met so many incredible women over the years who suffer from financial hardship while undergoing treatment. Not only are these women fighting to stay alive, but they are fighting to stay afloat.”

While every professional athlete has a different motivating factor, one of the biggest things that drives Larson is raising awareness about breast cancer. The silver and bronze medalist lost her mother to breast cancer over a decade ago and she was always one of the biggest reasons for Larson’s success on the court. Each player in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball will have a cause they will be playing for this season. “I chose the Pink Fund because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was pretty young in high school,” said Larson. “At the time when she got re-diagnosed, my family had to move and they lost a job. Times were tough a little bit financially. The Pink Fund allows money to be raised to help women in need. I’m really excited to be able to represent that. My mom passed away and it will be 11 years this year. This is in honor of her and I want to dedicate that to her.”

The COVID-19 shutdown was a curse and a blessing for 22-year-old Liam Carr and 24-year-old Timothee Leger. Both lost their jobs and Carr dropped out of school when all his college classes went online. Now the two Canadians are taking to the road to spread awareness and raise money for a cause close to their hearts. News 25’s Grace Boyles speaks with the Pink Snowbirds during their pit stop in Pass Christian to learn about their journey and the reason they embarked on it. Two Canadians, two bicycles, a dog, and a 6,000-mile trek sounds like an adventure novel. However, there’s nothing fictional about childhood friends Liam Carr and Timothee Leger teaming up for a cycling expedition across the United States to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, a disease that affected Carr’s family. “The inspiration really came from my mom. She had breast cancer about five years ago.”

How the Pandemic is Affecting Metro Detroit Charities: In a normal year, the upper crust of metro Detroit society would be slipping into designer gowns and crisp tuxedos this month and flocking to the MGM Grand Detroit for a lavish gala to raise more than $500,000 to fund the Judson Center’s work supporting children and families with various special needs. The event usually draws more than 600 attendees who feast on fancy fare, dance the night away, and earnestly applaud a series of appearances by families who had benefited from their generosity in the prior year.

Genesee Sno Packer's Annual Bikini Rally raise funds for men and women diagnosed with breast cancer. Women, and men, ride their snowmobiles wearing a bikini, bathing suit or a creative fun outfit down a field for a short distance. The participants collect pledges before and during the event, which are all donated for the cause. Click here to listen to Theresa Osborn of the Rally talk with The Buzz on 98.9

Michigan-based Short's Brewing Company announced Monday they are teaming up with The Pink Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the brewery's flagship beer, Soft Parade.

About 1,400 women die from breast cancer every day around the world

Molly MacDonald’s Pink Fund provides a financial bridge for patients actively receiving breast cancer treatment. The fund often provides help with housing, transportation, utilities and insurance.

Medicine has made remarkable progress in battling many diseases that were once a certain death sentence. Conditions like HIV, heart disease and many types of cancer are now treated as chronic conditions — with patients living 20 or 30 years, or longer, after diagnosis. However, there’s an ongoing financial toll to these long-term diseases that often surprises patients and makes saving for retirement much more challenging.

Today AARP announced its 2019-2020 AARP Purpose Prize award recipients. The AARP Purpose Prize is the only national award that celebrates people 50-plus who are using their life experience to create social change. Each of five winners will receive a $60,000 award. Additionally, AARP announced nine AARP Purpose Prize fellows, who will be also honored at the Washington, D.C. gala for the mission-focused work of the organizations they each lead. Each fellow will receive a $5,000 award to further the mission of their organization. The AARP Purpose Prize award gala will be held in Washington, D.C. on November 12, 2019, and emceed by journalist and CBS contributor María Elena Salinas and commentator David Brooks, author of the bestselling The Second Mountain.

Nearly half of patients (48%) with breast cancer surveyed by The Pink Fund said the cost of transportation was a barrier to receiving treatment, with more than 60% missing an appointment or being late to one because of transportation issues. Moreover, the survey found that 67% of respondents are in need of transportation assistance to and/or from treatment and that 80% would need a ride service to treatment three times or more each month. The Pink Fund, which provides short-term financial support to help meet basic needs, decrease stress levels and allow patients with breast cancer to focus on healing while improving survivorship outcomes, surveyed nearly 800 patients, including 93% who are in active treatment for their disease.

Stephanie McKire, 60, knows how expensive cancer can be. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2012, McKire, now retired and living in Detroit, was a quality engineer and had employer-sponsored health insurance. She soon found that, even with insurance, the copays and costs of medication and therapies added up to thousands of dollars. McKire says people don’t realize that the cost of cancer treatment can linger even after that treatment has ended. She is still paying off the treatment from her original diagnosis as well as a recurrence earlier this year. It will take another three years to close out her debt.

For the past four years, one Michigan man has been raising funds and generating awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month—through his clothes. In solidarity with all those impacted by the disease, Detroit-based attorney Ryan Plecha, started "Pink Week," an online campaign designed to call attention to breast cancer and the struggles faced by those living with it. Since 2016, Plecha has picked one week in October during which he wears at least one item of pink clothing each day wherever he goes—including the courtroom. He then documents the week's outfits on social media to raise awareness and encourage people to donate to the cause.

New research says a model developed by MIT can predict breast-cancer risk from a mammogram up to 5 years in advance. AI can help patients at risk of breast cancer make smarter health decisions, new research suggests.

Molly MacDonald was recognized with the eyeforpharma Award in the Patient Champion Category for creating the nonprofit, THE PINK FUND. The Patient Champion Award recognizes individuals who have provided the patient with a voice, a voice that has influenced governments, customers or other patients - and ultimately provided better results for society. Good advocates are able to challenge the status quo, ensure that patients are heard and empowered, and motivate others to account for those in need.

Young adult cancer survivors are at higher risk for debt and work-related physical and mental impairment after their treatment, new research finds. For many survivors, getting cancer treatment has been a matter of life and debt. When Beth Stebner was rocked by an ovarian cancer diagnosis just six months before her 2017 wedding, she was hit with a $130,000 hospital bill for emergency surgery on the grapefruit-sized tumor that had ruptured on her right ovary. While her medical resident fiance’s health insurance covered all but a few thousand dollars of that tab, what really hurt was Stebner missing work.

Reviver Auto is also partnering with Michigan-based The Pink Fund to create a Pink Fund-branded digital license plate, as well as digital Pink Fund logos for the Rplate, all of which will help raise funds to support the organization’s mission of providing financial support to help meet basic needs, decrease stress levels and allow breast cancer patients in active treatment to focus on healing while improving survivorship outcomes.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins, employers can consider helping people work through cancer by offering paid leave, flexible schedules and extra 15-minute breaks. After fighting for their lives, many cancer survivors are left fighting for their livelihoods. Shannen Doherty returned to work in January after almost two years of being treated for breast cancer — but there was a time when she doubted whether she would ever be back on set again.  

(WXYZ) - A Holland, Michigan man will swim 20 miles on Tuesday, Sept. 4 to honor his mom and help others battling breast cancer. The journey will take place in the open waters of Lake Michigan. Nick Hobson has been swimming for as long as he can remember, he said. Now he's getting ready for a journey unlike any other. And he's doing it to raise money for The Pink Fund, a national breast cancer foundation which is located in Michigan.

The outlook for breast cancer survival is more optimistic than ever, following a 39 percent decrease in mortality between 1989 and 2015, according to the American Cancer Society. But treatment costs remain dizzyingly high—and for some patients, price is prohibitive to recovery. 

TAILORx is very good news for an estimated 60,000 women a year, who in years past would have received chemotherapy, possibly risking long-term physical and mental side effects, in addition to experiencing what is now an additional and recognized side effect of cancer treatment: financial toxicity.

A cancer diagnosis is always devastating, but for some it leaves more financial wreckage than others.  

Health Care Heroes recognizes outstanding and beyond-the-ordinary achievements in health care in Michigan. Each Hero has either directly saved lives or significantly contributed to alleviating human pain and suffering. All have improved the quality of lives of the people or patients they touch.

Two reports find that a cancer diagnosis leads to financial problems for the majority of patients.

The Fred Astaire Dance Studio-Reston, located at 585 Grove St., in Herndon, lit up the night as they presented a charity gala based on ABC's number one entertainment show, Dancing with Stars.

When Roberta Woodard underwent breast cancer treatment last year, the disease took a toll not only on her health, but also on her bank account. The first part of her treatment was one day of intense chemotherapy per week for 16 weeks. The 48-year-old Salisbury woman, a paraprofessional who works with students with special needs, traveled to Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore for the treatment, which meant taking the day off from work.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but what many people aren't aware of is the financial cost of a diagnosis.

After fighting for their lives, many cancer survivors are left fighting for their livelihoods.

After fighting for their lives, many cancer survivors are left fighting for their livelihoods.

Josh Blair, an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University, uses The Pink Fund Survey in his article on Breast Cancer.

Ever seen a 1,000-horsepower, four-turbocharger Bugatti Veyron in real life? How about the rare Lamborghini Reventon, named for a killer fighting bull, whose 660 horses can propel it from 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds? Or the gas-electric Ferrari LaFerrari, with a hybrid motor that can top out at 217 mph

One year after a breast cancer survivor nearly went into financial ruin while fighting her disease, she's helping make sure no others have to struggle financially during their fight.

The Pink Fund mission is to help families keep up with their living expenses while paying for cancer treatments. Since its start, The Pink Fund has paid over two million dollars worth of bills to families in need. Molly MacDonald is the founder and a breast cancer survivor. Her organization has grown to a national level and she has plans to continue its growth.

A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to financial ruin for survivors and their families. Here's what you can do to protect yourself.

Unable to work to pay the mortgage and other bills while undergoing two surgeries and six weeks of daily radiation treatments, the mother of five felt completely overwhelmed.

MacDonald's dire situation illustrates what a lot of women who get diagnosed with breast cancer have to deal with: A massive influx in costs that treatment requires.

AmazonSmile features all the same items as regular Amazon, except when you place your order on AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your purchase total will be donated to the charity of their choosing.

This event is hosted by the nonprofit The Pink Fund and features community members paired with professional dancers from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills. This year’s dancers include Becker, Sue Colomina of Macomb, Julie MacPherson of Macomb, Cheryl Fabian-McCoy of Canton, Blaire Miller of Bloomfield Hills, Donna Petty of Flint, Carol Ziecik of Bloomfield Hills and Michael Krieger of Southfield.

Cancer is crushingly costly. This week, actress Julia Louis Dreyfus revealed that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She made the announcement on social media.

For those who have faced cancer, toxicity from treatment causing such symptoms as nausea, weakness, and vomiting is expected. What they don’t expect is the toxicity that can come from the huge financial burden of paying for cancer treatment, even when a patient has insurance.

When Molly MacDonald was diagnosed with breast cancer in Spring 2005, she didn’t expect that some of the most harrowing effects of her disease would be financial. But six months into treatment, her house was foreclosed on and she began to rely on food banks as she struggled to support her five children.

"Let me know how I can help." That's an offer almost everyone diagnosed with cancer — 1.6 million Americans this year — will encounter.

The hidden and true costs of breast cancer.

"The Pink Fund" is putting on an event called "Dancing with the Survivors" which benefits breast cancer patients receiving treatment in Michigan. The event features live entertainment including dancing, as well as great food and cocktails. It is on Thursday, October 5 from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. at the Shriners Silver Garden Events Center.  That's located at 24350 Southfield Road in Southfield.

Southfield (WXYZ) - "The Pink Fund" is putting on an event called "Dancing with the Survivors" which benefits breast cancer patients receiving treatment in Michigan.

With thousands of charities competing for donations, it can be difficult to know where a financial gift to a good cause will make the biggest impact. This article outlines the top breast cancer charities in the United States and their specific contributions to the cause, plus other factors to keep in mind before donating.

Dancing With The Survivors is an evening of dancing to celebrate a nationwide community of breast cancer survivors who thrive in their recovery, and make a difference in the lives of other cancer patients.

Dancing With The Survivors will be an evening of dancing, music, cocktails and delicious food to celebrate our Michigan community of breast cancer survivors who thrive in their recovery and make a difference in the lives of Michigan breast cancer patients.

It was April Fool's Day, 2005. I was in New York for work, at LaGuardia airport, and my OB-GYN called to tell me I had breast cancer. It was no joke: I'd recently had a mammogram that was suspect... In one moment I went from healthy person to cancer patient. That's how long it takes for your whole life to change. And the timing would turn out to have not just a devastating effect on my health; it would destroy me financially.

We hear a lot about the struggles of working women and the notion that we can create some semblance of order between managing responsibilities at home and at work. It’s the elusive work/life balance every working woman longs to achieve. But throw a cancer diagnosis into the equation and that’s when things can really start to tailspin.

One of the biggest questions you will need to wrap your head around is whether you should tell your employer and coworkers about your diagnosis. On the one hand, the idea of support at work seems comforting. But as your situation continues on, the trade-off for that initial support may cause some issues down the line.

The first thought Molly MacDonald had when she was diagnosed with breast cancer was that her children would be better off if she died. A routine mammogram in 2005 revealed signs of breast cancer at a very early stage but she still would need surgery and radiation. The mother-of-five, now 66, had gone through a divorce, was in a financial hole and didn't know how she would afford treatment and pay the bills. Trying to find some financial assistance, MacDonald vowed that if she could prevent at least one woman from going through what she was, her diagnosis would be worth it.

Molly MacDonald was diagnosed with breast cancer during a time of job transition. She had no income and was paying Cobra insurance for her and her five children and former husband. "We were facing homelessness, I was in line at the food bank, I was bargaining with Ford credit every 60 days to please not come and repo my car,” MacDonald told Fox News.

Having a breast cancer diagnosis is hard enough without worrying about job security. With supportive employers, many women continue to work during cancer treatments like chemotherapy. But other women, often in low-paying positions or small organizations, are more vulnerable. And no matter what your career, cancer-related fatigue, nausea and medical appointments mean you'll likely have to negotiate for time off and extra breaks throughout your treatment and recovery. If you're among the 12 percent of U.S. women who develops breast cancer at some point in her life, experts provide insight about disclosing your illness, workplace protections and available resources if job loss looms.

MedicalResearch.com sits down with Molly MacDonald, founder of The Pink Fund, to talk about her journey with breast cancer and share tips for others going through this life-altering experience.

Poor women undergoing breast cancer treatment are four times more likely to lose their jobs than their high-income peers, a new study suggests. The findings were consistent with stories Molly MacDonald hears at The Pink Fund, a Rochester Hills, Michigan, nonprofit she started to offer financial help to women with breast cancer in 2006, after treatment for the disease left her jobless and bankrupt... The loss disproportionately strikes poor women, probably because low-wage hourly workers tend to be more easily replaceable, and their employers are less likely to accommodate their needs as they go through time-consuming and draining treatment, MacDonald said.

Between jobs, with five kids and having recently divorced, Molly MacDonald was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. On line at the food bank one day, it struck her how many other patients she’d met who were facing bankruptcy as they underwent treatment, which lasts seven to eight months on average. Indeed, 50% of bankruptcies result from illness or illness-related job loss, according to a widely cited Harvard study.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s a cause near and dear to me. Some of you may know, I lost my mother to the disease 26 years ago. Well, one nonprofit is doing its part to help the women fighting the illness by putting a new spin on the hit dance competition, Dancing with the Stars. We caught up with some of the ladies to see how it’s helping them get their confidence back.

About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime – and according to the Medical Journal of Medicine, studies have shown that nearly 50 percent of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses. This campaign seeks to raise awareness of breast cancer and the struggles that breast cancer patients face every day that go beyond the cancer itself. In some cases, the financial burden of the diagnosis is so great that patients will actually decline in treatment.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women-owned Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co. has teamed up with The Pink Fund, a non-profit that provides up to 90 days of non-medical financial aid to cover basic cost of living expenses. During the month of October, Natalie’s will be donating 40 percent of their clean label, squeezed fresh Orange Beet juice sales to The Pink Fund. The juice will also feature pink labels with an inspirational quote from a Breast Cancer Survivor, meant to uplift and inspire women nationwide.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women-owned, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company has teamed up with The Pink Fund, a non-profit that provides up to 90 days of non-medical financial aid to cover basic cost of living expenses. During the month of October, Natalie’s will be donating 40 percent of their clean label, squeezed fresh Orange Beet juice sales to The Pink Fund.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and chances are you or someone close to you has been affected by this disease. These philanthropic companies donate a good portion of their proceeds from these fun health and fitness items to breast cancer research, with the aim to save more lives in 2017 and beyond.

Cancer treatment can create a real financial hardship. This weekend a group of breast cancer survivors will be raising money to help other women fighting the disease. They’ll do it by dancing. Michelle McGarry is a survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago and had a double mastectomy. Since then, she's become a triathlete. All that exercise will come in handy Saturday night. She'll be one of 6 women in this year's "Dancing with Survivors" competition at the Galleria of Stone.

During October, Natalie’s will donate up to 40 percent of the sales of its Orange Beet Juice to The Pink Fund for families affected by breast cancer. Pink Fund 90-Day Grants assure basic, household cost-of-living expenses are met, so that the family can focus on getting their loved one well.

Breast cancer turned Molly MacDonald’s life upside down—in more ways than one. MacDonald was diagnosed in 2005, five years after a difficult and costly divorce. She was already transitioning between jobs, and with cancer added to the mix, the University of Michigan graduate’s house went into foreclosure. Reduced to standing in line at a food bank to feed her five children, she didn’t know where to go next. “I had the divorce and then I had this illness and then I had this job loss, and now I’m potentially facing going to a homeless shelter,” MacDonald says. “It was terrifying.”

Dancing With The Survivors pairs breast cancer survivors with professionally trained dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios across the country. For three months, they meet weekly to learn and perfect a ballroom style dance to be performed in front of an audience at their venue. Now in its fourth year, this annual, nationwide fundraising event to benefit The Pink Fund is an evening of dancing, music, cocktails and delicious food to celebrate a nationwide community of breast cancer survivors who thrive in their recovery, and make a difference in the lives of other cancer patients. The money raised goes to local breast cancer patients experiencing the devastating financial losses that may occur during treatment.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) month, a time that reminds us of a disease that's still a terrifying reality for many women (about 1-in-8 will have breast cancer in their lifetime)—and is still without a cure. To show support for these women, some of the most popular ways to raise funds for breast cancer research are by taking part in walks or races or by buying "pink" products from companies that donate a portion of the profit to BCA. But what if you know a woman currently dealing with the disease and you want to help? What's beyond the walk? That's where Molly MacDonald comes in.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and for patients fighting the disease there are often financial challenges too, according to Molly MacDonald, founder of The Pink Fund. The Pink Fund provides financial assistance to help patients meet basic needs. MacDonald says patients should speak with a hospital financial counselor to understand treatment costs. She also suggests building a cancer budget, saying there's more costs associated with the disease beyond medical issues, such as buying new clothes and hiring household help if needed. She says it's important to be your own advocate, or to find someone to do that for you, in order to manage medical bills.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, this means that there will be numerous events and fundraisers happening throughout metro Detroit. On Saturday, October 8 The Pink Fund will be holding the 4th Annual Dancing With The Survivors event. There will be great food, and the drinks will be plentiful. The highlight of the evening is the dance performances from breast cancer survivors. The dancers have been practicing ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire studios to get prepared for their performance.

In 2005, while I was undergoing a challenging job transition, my doctor uttered the nightmarish words some 250,000 women a year hear. They begin with “I’m sorry” and end with “you have breast cancer.” Those words railroaded my job search, career plans and ultimately my family’s financial wellbeing. Overnight, my focus went from finding a new career to finding a way to stay alive, as I underwent the grueling process of two surgeries and six weeks of radiation therapy. Like most Americans, our family had less than $1,000 savings in the bank. I had been through a financially devastating divorce in which my husband’s business dealings resulted in the loss of our home, his business, our cars and our marriage.

In honor of Stand Up To Cancer Day, Hoda and Billy Bush, who is filling in for Kathie Lee, are sipping pink cocktails. Friday night across all four major networks, a “Stand Up To Cancer” special will raise money for cancer research.

I was determined to make a difference in the lives of other working women in treatment for breast cancer. I created and executed a "Plan B" for these women, which would provide up to 90 days and $3,000 of non-medical financial support for bill payments to their creditors, and give them a little breathing room to focus on treatment. Since that summer in 2005, my company The Pink Fund has provided more than $1.5 million in bill payments for 1,500 families nationwide.

Breast cancer survivors might want to get out their dancing shoes. The Pink Fund is a public charity that provides short-term financial aid for a brief period of treatment and recovery for breast cancer patients. The national organization will be holding Dancing with the Survivors, an event that raises money for local breast cancer patients experiencing the devastating financial losses that occur during treatment. The dancing event will be held on October 9 at the Crystal Ballroom. The organization has paired up with local Fred Astaire Dance Studios for the event.

Being a part of Dancing with the Survivors turned out to be one of the happiest moments of Rachel Platt’s life. After initially turning them down, the breast cancer survivor realized how much she could give back through The Pink Fund. “I initially said, no, thank you. I have no rhythm. Nothing. I can’t even dance. It’s really pathetic. I hung up the phone and then I said to myself, this is like the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Platt, who was diagnosed five years ago and participated in the event in 2014 at Beyer Ford in Morristown.

For more than a decade, breast cancer patients have had their financial burdens eased by a non-profit organization designed to do just that. The woman behind it all is Molly MacDonald, and she was up against some of the top entrepreneurs in the state for a prestigious honor, all while she just takes honor in paying the bills.

Chemotherapy, the most common treatment for cancer, has famously unpleasant side effects, including nausea, fatigue and hair loss. Less known is how much all that misery costs. Although costs vary by the type of drug and cancer, a month of chemotherapy by infusion typically costs more than $10,000. And for many people, that's just the beginning of a grueling course of treatment that may involve months of chemo, radiation, surgery to remove tumors and drugs.