Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition to honor two at gala

As breast cancer survivors, Kathleen Baxley and Laura Altman know firsthand how important it is to have support after being diagnosed.

The two have worked tirelessly for the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, helping to run its Care Counselor Program, where they lead a group of nearly 50 counselors, all survivors, as they offer support to women in all South Shore communities affected by breast cancer.

For their efforts, Baxley and Altman will serve as co-honorees of the RVCBCC’s Gala, which is a celebration of the coalition reaching its five-year anniversary.

“They’ve done a fabulous job,” said Peggy McDonald, who serves as the co-president of the coalition along with Erin O’Sullivan. “We’ve grown drastically and they take it all in stride. They deserve the honor. They really are the backbone of the organization.”

McDonald said there are about 370 people who will attend the gala on March 11 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Garden City Hotel. The event is black tie-optional, and will feature a performance by the band Mystic. The outing was originally scheduled for Jan. 21, but was postponed to March 11 because of the prevalence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 at that time.

McDonald said organizing the Care Counseling Program is the most demanding part of the organizations, and credited Baxley and Altman for consistently recruiting more counselors to help women, and some men, who are  in need.

Baxley was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2008, and after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, she overcame the illness in October 2009. Her cancer then returned last November, but she was found to be cancer-free after another successful procedure in November.

Baxley said that based on her experience, she is a big believer in early detection and women getting tested on a yearly basis. She added that because she was tested often, doctors were able to catch both cases of her breast cancer early, which helped increase her chances of survival. She said she was humbled to be recognized by the RVCBCC at the gala.

“It’s an honor, of course,” she said, “and it’s just nice that the coalition recognizes how hard Laura and I work to help all of our recipients who are women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Altman was diagnosed in 2016, and overcame her cancer that same year. She said that having support was one of the major reasons she got through the ordeal, and she greatly appreciated the RVCBCC for recognizing her.

“It’s a complete honor and I’m very humbled by the recognition,” Altman said. “The coalition is very near and dear to my own heart.”

Baxley and Altman have each been a part of the coalition since it formed in 2017. What started as a Rockville Centre initiative has expanded, with 37 other villages and towns now involved in the program. When a person is diagnosed with breast cancer and contacts the RVCBCC, Altman and Baxley work with them directly to match them with a counselor who has had a similar experience and overcame their illness. As part of the outreach program, about 35 breast cancer survivors are available to work with people who are diagnosed with cancer and support them emotionally. The program also sometimes supports newly diagnosed people financially. Some of the counseling recipients have become counselors.

Over the past five years, the RVCBCC has grown to partner with various hospitals and physical therapy facilities. It has worked with Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside and Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, and has had contact with the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Through fundraisers, the coalition has also supported breast cancer research thanks to donations from Rockville Centre residents and surrounding communities. All money raised goes toward helping those involved with the RVCBCC and funds items such as wigs, mastectomy bras, clothing, massages, physical therapy or anything else that a coalition member may need after their diagnosis.

The gala is another fundraiser that will go toward helping those who are battling breast cancer.

The RVCBCC is still looking for new volunteers as part of the Care Counselor Program. Those interested can contact Baxley at kbaxley@rvcbcc.org or Altman at laltman@rvcbcc.org.