'You're Not Alone Here'

FORMED BY WOMEN WHO FELT ISOLATED BY CANCER, THE BREASTIES HAS HELPED MORE THAN 100,000 FIND FRIENDSHIP—AND FUN

- EILEEN FINAN WITH REPORTING FROM ABBY ROEDEL

Six years ago, on day one of Camp Breastie, a four-day gathering for those touched by breast or gynecological cancer, organizer Allie Brumel was concerned to see a camper sitting on their own on a bench. “I was like, ‘I hope they’re feeling good about being here,” she says. Then Brumel noticed they were on the phone. “I overheard them say, ‘Mom, there are 500 me’s here!’”

That sense of belonging is why Brumel, 36, along with cofounders Paige More, 32, and Bri Majsiak, 30, created the Breasties, a nonprofit cancer community (motto: “worst club, best members”) that’s more than 100,000 strong: “We bring together people who understand each other. That’s a powerful gift to somebody who feels alone.”