The mission of the Cancer de Mama group is to provide a service that is part of the healing process for survivors of breast cancer.

Project founder Jackie Jackson, from Enderby BC, is a breast cancer survivor. She was fortunate to be able to purchase a prosthesis and her emotional healing began right away.

When Jackie learned there was very limited help for Mexican women, she decided to bring donations and supplies to the women in Nayarit. In 1996, Jackie gave away 28 prostheses. That was the beginning of Cancer de Mama.

Today, with the help of over 100 volunteers (men and women!), Cancer de Mama provides free prosthesis, funds medical expenses, helps with after surgery counselling and physical therapy, provides wigs, scarves and hats for Mexican women. A three day workshop is held annually in La Peñita. This clinic helps in all areas of dealing with this disease, giving women compassion, hope and encouragement.

Women come from all over the State of Nayarit. While the need seems endless, we have never turned a single woman away. We want to continue that tradition and ensure an everlasting supply of support for these women – all of whom are survivors.

Last year, the Cancer de Mama clinic provided help for more than 300 women. We expect the need to be even greater this year.

The Cancer de Mama clinic cannot happen without the help of over a hundred volunteers – people just like you!

If you are going to be in the La Peñita area during our annual clinic (normally in February) and would like to help, please contact the appropriate co-ordinator for the committee you are interested in, or fill out the contact form and indicate how you would like to help.

If you won't be in the area during the clinic, you can still help out. We always need knitters/crocheters/sewers, donations of goods to stock our free store & clinic, and cash donations!

If you would like to donate materials, please see our wish list of needed items below. Not sure how to get them to us? One option in donating bras to the cause is dropping them off at Malary's Fashion Network, 5755 - 176 Street in Cloverdale, or call (604) 574-6402. Malary's will gladly give you a $10 Gift Certificate that can be used on your own TAB Custom-fitted Bra purchase. For other locations, please contact us.

Our Wish List for Donations:

• Gently used bras (Please make sure bras are clean, and have NO UNDERWIRE, NO FOAM CUPS, NO DEMI CUPS)
• Gently used prosthetic bras
• Gently used prosthetic forms
• Knitted or crocheted tit bits (patterns available)

The "Wig Shack" is looking for donations of wigs, hats, pretty scarves, lipstick, blush, mascara, foundation etc. Please contact Yvonne Trottier at yvonnetrottier@hotmail.com or Diane Sabourin at diane_sabourin@live.com.

For the free store (please make sure your donations are washed and clean):

• Warm clothes
• Jackets
• Scarves
• Gloves
• Sweaters
• Any clean, gently used clothes

Knitting materials:

• Light colored cotton blend yarns
• Soft knitting materials (used for tit bit prosthesis)

Sewing materials:

• Knit stretch fabric in white, off white & black
• Stretch lace, 4" wide, any color
• Black and white thread, large spools
• Sewing pins
• Scissors
• Sundries used in sewing projects

Makeup for the Look Good, Feel Great Makeovers:

• Good quality lipstick
• Any new makeup
• Sponges/application products

Kitchen Items:

• Food
• Tea towels
• Cutlery

If you would like to assist the Cancer de Mama clinic by making a cash donation, all donations can be made through the Jaltemba Foundation. Your donations will be used to buy supplies for the clinic, and support breast cancer survivors in need.