by Srianthi Perera - Aug. 20, 2012 10:11 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
My Hope Bag, a Gilbert charity, is taking a novel step to help women battling breast cancer.
On Saturday, it will hold what it says is the Valley's first Breast Cancer Resource Expo, bringing together 35 organizations and businesses that cater to breast-cancer patients and survivors at the Mesa Convention Center.
They include Abreast in the West, Arizona Wig Boutique, Barbara's Mastectomy Boutique, Bosom Buddies of Arizona and Don't Be A Chump! Check For A Lump!
"The purpose of the expo is to help women going through their breast-cancer journey," said Sarah Ellery, a breast-cancer survivor and founder of My Hope Bag.
My Hope Bag took its name from the bags volunteers prepare for cancer patients, filling them with useful items, including a book of recipes for those experiencing a change in taste due to chemotherapy, a journal, coupons for various specialized services and a cancer self-help book.
Information on resources is also welcome, she said.
"When I give out the bags, I visit with the gals and a lot of them say, 'I didn't know where to go for a prosthetic. I don't know where to go after I talk to my surgeon. I don't know what to do or who to talk to. I don't know where to go to get a wig,' " Ellery said.
Ellery said she thought "we should do something where we can help the woman through her journey. And that's how it (the expo) got started."
Since My Hope Bag was founded about a year and a half ago, it has presented close to 100 tote bags to cancer victims in Arizona and across the country. Funds for the bags have been raised privately.
"We're not where we would like to be financially. We don't have very many donations coming in. Hopefully, that will start picking up," said Ellery's daughter Beckie Black, who handles the organization's marketing.
My Hope Bag operates under the umbrella of a fraternal life-insurance company called Royal Neighbors of America, but it is in the process of getting its own charitable status.
"As an organization, the only thing we would hope to gain is to let more people learn about us so we can support more people," Black said.
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