Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Inc

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 2004 to fund support services for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley. The Foundation was started by Dana Effron and Cathy Varunok, two community activists who saw a need for increased services for people with breast cancer.

For years, Dana and Cathy raised money for national breast cancer organizations but in 2004, they decided to focus their fundraising efforts on helping their friends and neighbors in the eight counties of the Hudson Valley, New York.

We are a public charity and therefore raise money throughout the year to fund our programs and grants. The five major fundraisers are: Hoops for Hope Women’s Basketball Tournament at Marist College in Poughkeepsie in March; the Miles of Hope Spring Brunch at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie in May; a 5K and Children’s Family Fun Run at Tymor Park in Dutchess County also in May; Goals for Hope Women’s Soccer Tournament at the Lagrange Soccer Fields in Lagrange, NY in August; and our signature event the Community Breast Cancer Walk at James Baird State Park off of the Taconic State Parkway in Pleasant Valley NY in September/October.

All funds raised in the Hudson Valley are used to support programs in the Hudson Valley. Some of the current programs funded by the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation include:

• Complementary Medicine – this includes funding of massage therapy, reiki, acupuncture, music therapy, exercise/dance, and art therapy programs to enhance recovery.
• Scholarships for college bound high school seniors whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. Scholarships are given in all 8 counties.
• Medical Gap Care Fund for individuals who are faced with life emergencies and/or costs not covered by health insurance while they are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
• Peer to Peer a program uniting recently diagnosed breast cancer patients with trained survivors.
• La Boutique at the Dyson Center for Cancer Care at Vassar Brothers Medical Center where women can purchase items related to their on-going treatment.