Unite for HER helps heal, empower, restore people living with breast or ovarian cancer
By Jay Nachman
Chester County resident Sue Weldon was 39 when she received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2004. The experience led her to found Unite for HER, a national nonprofit that provides free supportive services and resources to people with breast and ovarian cancer.
An active gymnastics coach and mother of three at the time of her diagnosis, Weldon underwent six months of chemotherapy and took an array of medications to treat the disease. She experienced fatigue, exhaustion and nausea.
“It was a lot to navigate, and I didn’t realize what was going to be affecting me during that time. That’s when I was able to lean into learning about the power of integrative therapies that could help me support myself during cancer,” she said.
Weldon founded Unite for HER in 2009. Today, the organization serves approximately 11,000 people annually in all 50 states.
Unite for HER’s integrative care model is intended to complement, rather than replace, traditional cancer treatment. The organization’s programs provide services addressing some of the physical, emotional and practical challenges that can accompany cancer care.
Applications to Unite for HER’s wellness programs can be made through the organization’s website. Each recipient receives services valued at approximately $2,000.
The Wellness Passport Program is for people diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, stages 1 through 4, within the past 18 months. The Empowered Living Program is available to people diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer at any stage, regardless of when they were diagnosed.
Services available through the programs include acupuncture, yoga and meditation sessions; counseling; grocery gift cards; and meal delivery. Participants may also receive care packages containing products intended to provide additional support during treatment.
The Empowered Living Program includes consultations with a registered dietitian and sixweek wellness workshops. Over the course of establishing Unite for HER, Weldon said she learned about health equity and barriers to healthcare. Approximately 58% of Unite for HER’s recipients are women of color or come from communities that face barriers to accessing healthcare. The organization also offers programs for Spanish speakers and has Spanish-speaking staff available to serve them.
Cancer treatment can create practical and financial challenges in addition to the medical demands of treatment. Weldon said some Unite for HER members struggle to afford basic necessities while undergoing treatment.
“A lot of our members struggle with just getting food on the table. They have to choose sometimes between transportation to their chemotherapy or having food for their family,” Weldon said. “When we come in and give them a $150 gift card for groceries, that actually helps them with more than financial stressors, but their emotional stress and their overall nutrition.”
Unite for HER’s programs are available to eligible people with breast or ovarian cancer. More information is available at www.uniteforher.org or by calling 610-883-1177. Spanish-speaking individuals can call 484-836-2247.
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
