Closing Out 2020
August 20, 2021
With the start of a new year comes new hopes, new dreams, new beginnings, and new aspirations. It’s a time to band together and make good things happen. And a time to look back and plan for hopefully better days ahead.
ABCD made it through 2020 because YOU were here for us. We are beyond grateful to our community for believing in our mission and services. Thank you to our dedicated Mentors, brave Participants, generous donors, compassionate health care partners, and caring friends. You provided services, funds and support that made all the difference.
As I reflect on 2020, one of my highlights was the opportunity to more personally connect with the ABCD community across the country. Whether on the phone, over Zoom, or via email, these connections motivated me every day to ensure the short- and long-term availability of ABCD’s top-notch emotional support services.
What I am most proud of in 2020 is that – despite the year’s unprecedented challenges – ABCD stayed open and available to support anyone dealing with breast cancer. Our staff and Mentors answered every call. We listened to people’s concerns about their diagnoses as well as their added fears related to the pandemic, such as going to treatment alone, surgery delays and hospital stays without any visitors. We provided hope, compassion, and understanding when people needed it the most.
As shelter at home regulations started easing in the summer, people started getting mammograms again. This led to a 25% increase in requests for our support, and ultimately, in 2020, we made the most one-to-one matches ever. In some ways, we know this is a bittersweet moment as it reinforces what we all know to be true – breast cancer didn’t stop for COVID. But it also confirms that COVID didn’t stop ABCD.
Looking forward to 2021, we want you to know, WE ARE HERE! Nobody needs to feel alone when facing breast cancer.
