Survivor Jordan Collins with Sara Cox
OUR MISSION
Forge supports, empowers and improves medical access, health outcomes, and quality of life for Alabama and Mississippi breast cancer patients, survivors and those who love them from the day of diagnosis through the rest of life
OUR PURPOSE
Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, has one of the highest survival rates – but not if you live in Alabama or Mississippi. Forge is working to reduce breast cancer mortality in the Deep South by breaking down barriers to care.
OUR APPROACH
We find there are 3 major obstacles to treatment compliance and better health outcomes for breast cancer patients:
1). Transportation. By providing gas cards and Lyft rides (where available and costefficient), we ensure patients can get to their chemotherapy and radiation appointments
2). Finances. Breast cancer is expensive It can lead to extended time off of work, job loss, debt, eviction, and more We provide gift cards for groceries and help with essential bills during active treatment.
3). Mental Health. Being able to get up and fight another day can be hard. Forge helps in two primary ways: free mental health counseling for patients and their families and peer matching, connecting patients with trained breast cancer survivor volunteers who provide personalized support from someone who has actually “been there.”
By innovating at the intersection of health care and community support, Forge is improving survival rates, ensuring breast cancer patients in the Deep South have the resources and support they need to survive and thrive beyond their diagnosis
OUR GROWTH
from Auburn University. She has worked in heal more than 34 years, with a primary focus on wome Kristi works with our clients to provide indiv support, identify needs, and connects clients wit resources to meet their specific needs
Jennifer Caraway, our Mississippi Hardship Co earned her Bachelor of Science at Florida State and her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley La She has worked in both the legal and nonprofit sec notably at the YWCA of Central Alabama for 15 yea Mississippi Hardship Coordinator, Jennifer works w cancer patients in active treatment to assist with assistance with essential bills so our clients can focus on healing rather than rent
Mississippi Survivor
Angie Maxwell
