65 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Pink is in the air every October as families, businesses and even sports teams often pay homage to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated to reminding others to perform selfchecks and get regular screenings. One group of friends in South Carolina lost their dear friend Suzy McGrane to breast cancer in October 2005. She was diagnosed at age 28, beat cancer and helped others until it returned and she lost her fight. But McGrane’s effort was not in vain, and her friends – who started Save Our Suzy when she was in cancer treatment – have continued working hard to keep her memory and her passion for helping others alive, renaming the nonprofit organization Share Our Suzy (SOS) after she passed away. “Suzy was a friend of ours at University of South Carolina, and then she moved part-time to Charleston, spending her time between there and Columbia post-college. She was a friend of most of our current board members,” said Stephanie Godfrey. “Suzy’s fight with cancer taught us about the real needs of breast cancer patients. We learned how difficult it could be to make ends meet while paying medical bills and being unable to work due to treatment. This all got started because we wanted to help Suzy.” The volunteer-based group gives breast cancer patients a chance to focus solely on recovery, rather than financial issues that are hard to manage when expenses rise and ability to work decreases. Funds raised cover a range of needs, from wigs and prosthetics to childcare, gas, utility bills, medication assistance and more. “Imagine trying to decide if you can go have your chemo treatment when you don’t have the money to pay for childcare, gas or transportation,” Godfrey said. “Imagine fighting cancer while also struggling to meet your mortgage, pay your bills or forgo seeing extended family.” She added that other items like wigs and prosthetics help with self-esteem. One recipient of SOS’s funds – a single mother of two – expressed her gratitude for the nonprofit. “I thought hearing that I had breast cancer would be the worst thing. Turns out worrying about how I am going to pay my bills during treatment is much worse,” she said of SOS. “It means everything to me. I am so grateful to you and the people who donate to you.” Another patient added, “SOS Lowcountry is a godsend and you have helped me stop worrying so much. Thank you to all the strangers out there who are giving money to help people like me.” BY ANNE TOOLE Paint it Pink Breast cancer awareness health and wellness Suzy McGrane. Ladies Billfish Tournament Support
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