Cupertino's Bo Caldwell is Keynote Speaker at Awards Luncheon

Humor, emotion and hope among 160 breast cancer survivors, family members and friends characterized the second annual People with Purpose Awards Luncheon, which honored those in the community who are dedicated to improving the lives of breast cancer survivors. 

Bo Caldwell, a breast cancer survivor and best-selling author, was the keynote speaker during the luncheon and said she was thrilled to be able to help out.

Caldwell, who was diagnosed six-and-a-half-years ago, said what HERS has accomplished is both amazing and invaluable.

"I didn't know about HERS Breast Cancer Foundation," she said. "I live in Cupertino, and I was told about a place in Los Gatos that was similar called The Next Step and I went there. It was a real God send. It was amazing to know that it was there. That I can go to a place where I could feel comfortable and ask stupid questions and take my wig off."

Four women, Susan Buseck of Kaiser Permanente, Vandana Sharma of Washington Hospital, Rina Olea of Breast Cancer Connections and Lisa Stambaugh of Collective Discovery, Inc. were recognized for touching and changing the lives of women affected by breast cancer.

The event at the Sheraton Hotel in Milpitas, was held by HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit that empowers survivors to renew their self image after being diagnosed with cancer, through wigs and attire, regardless of financial status.

"Our mission is to empower women with breast cancer and help them with post-surgical garments, so that they can feel better and feel good about themselves," Executive Director Vera Packard said. "It's about giving them new self-esteem, beauty and dignity."

The organization has four programs to empower women affected by breast cancer including:

• Bras for Body and Soul, which is a program designed to help women overcome the emotional and physical effects of cancer treatments;
• We Support, You Survive, which provides post-mastectomy garments;
• Lymphedema Project, which helps survivors by providing lymphedema garments for prevention and treatment of swelling and fluid retention in the arm, which can happen after surgery and
• Hair with Care Program, which helps women who've lost their hair during chemotherapy.

"The life of women with breast cancer really changes after the diagnosis," Packard said. "The program provides everything from the bra to the post-surgical garments to the hair. It's all about the whole look after the diagnosis of cancer for a new path and a new life."

Julieanne DiBene, a Milpitas resident and breast cancer survivor, said the organization provides a camaraderie for those who may not have a support network.

"This is a place women can go to and feel safe because someone who has been through this understands the way we do," she said.

DiBene, who was diagnosed in 2009, started writing a blog called Passages in Pink, which talks about surviving and battling cancer with a humorous twist.

"As a writer you try to express yourself in a way that others can reach out," said DiBene, who said many patients she met while in chemo were in terminal stages of cancer.

"I noticed that what really resonates with everyone is humor," she said.

DiBene said she remembers playing poker with a terminal kidney patient and after a few games, he said, "I can afford to lose money. I'm dying."

"It sounds horrible, but it wasn't," she said. "His wife said it was the first time he had perked up in a long time, so I know that humor reaches people even in the most dreary and impossible situations and the blog came out of that."

Cancer like any other milestone will change your life forever, DiBene said.

"I want people to approach it with a little humor, be a little less afraid and I think the blog helps them do that," she said.

Even though she would never want to go through cancer again, Caldwell said good came out of her experience.

"I would love to be able to pass that on–the idea that good can come out of cancer," she said. "I learned things about myself. I developed qualities in myself that I never had before."

Newark Mayor David Smith was also present at the event to lend his support.

Smith, who first became aquatinted with the organization a year ago when he was invited to the first luncheon, said the organization and those involved are making a difference in people's lives.

"When I first spoke with Vera, I could see the passion she has for this organization, and when you think about her background and the fact that she was a breast cancer surgeon, she just brings so much to this organization in terms of knowledge and desire to truly help people," Smith said.

"I think the message today is that the "H" in her stands for hope and that's what this organization is about and it can and does and will provide hope to women," he said.