After losing a close friend to breast cancer and seeing the young family she left behind (including two small children, aged 3 and 6), a group of friends in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, wanted to do something to help others dealing with this disease. They decided to participate in the Run for the Cure and, after only three years, they had raised over $40,000 for breast cancer research.
This group of dedicated women decided to continue to work together to help women living with breast cancer, who need help with everyday expenses. They called their group the Forever Friends of Hope Foundation Incorporated. They bought wigs, prosthetics, and paid bills for local women with breast cancer, first in their Regina Qu’Appelle health region. They became a non-profit and then a registered charity. Due to the great need, the group decided to broaden their support to women with all types of cancer and expand to cover all of Saskatchewan.
“We raise money and put it in the hands of women that need it,” says REALTOR® Danah Hysuick of Indian Head, Saskatchewan (pictured left at the 80’s-themed Ladies Night Out Auction), who has been the President of the organization for the past 11 years.
Their annual showcase event is the Ladies Night Out Auction. This year’s auction raised $21,000 (after expenses) for women and their families dealing with cancer.
Over the years, Forever Friends of Hope Foundation Incorporated has stopped three foreclosures, bought school supplies, paid power bills, and even helped buy Christmas presents for families that were wiped out after a cancer diagnosis. To date, they have given away over $90,000.
“We have no office space or paid employees,” explains Danah. “We work from our kitchen tables and basements after we work our regular jobs. I am incredibly proud of my board and the work we continue to do.”
