Volunteer Profile: Gail Maher

When faced with adversity, heroes transform difficult experiences into change for those in need. This is exactly what Team Breast Friends (TBF) board member and breast cancer survivor Gail Maher has done and continues to do through her volunteer work with TBF, which aids cancer patients in the Corridor.

A five-year breast cancer survivor, Gail says the work TBF does for patients in need makes her feel extremely proud. She first started working with TBF immediately after she overcame cancer, a time when the health, financial, and emotional concerns that accompany being diagnosed with breast cancer were still fresh in her mind.

“I wanted to join the TBF team even before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but after I went through that experience, it pushed me to want to join the organization even more,” she said.

As a volunteer, Gail serves on the Review Committee, members of which are in charge of distributing donations for patients’ cancer treatments and services. This role allows her to witness first-hand the immense impact TBF’s financial support has on families and just how much it changes the course of a patient’s treatment. Seeing patients receiving donations for mammograms each year brings tears to her eyes.

Gail also said that seeing patient’s reactions to the support makes being a part of the organization so special. It is not uncommon that breast cancer patients do not have the family support system that Gail had, so having someone to talk to about their experience and its challenges is important.

“I just like helping people that have gone through the same experience that I have,” she said.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and following in Gail’s path in the fight against breast cancer, please click here.