Continuing the fight against breast cancer at the Hewlett House

Hewlett House is honoring Breast Cancer awareness, this month and every month. The community resource center has served Hewlett and beyond since 2000.

Geri Barish is the executive director of Hewlett House, which is operated by 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition, a nonprofit that was founded in 1990.

Hewlett House, on East Rockaway Road in Hewlett, is open to those fighting cancer and their families. A variety of free services are available, including yoga, meditation and tai chi classes, support groups, wigs, bathing suits, bras and informational services.

Hillary Barry, the resident instructor of meditation and reiki, a form of energy healing, wanted to offer complimentary healing for cancer patients, after both of her late parents battled the disease, her mother living as a survivor until 2019.

“I came from a unique perspective,” Barry said. “I wasn’t uncomfortable around it.”

In teaching the energy-redirecting practice, Barry hopes to empower the Hewlett House community. “When you get this diagnosis, you feel out of control,” she said. “With reiki, you feel like you have a little bit of control back in your life.”

Barish’s goal in creating Hewlett House was to redefine cancer patients’ view of life with the disease.

“When you look in the mirror, no matter what, you see the word cancer,” she said. “You could put earrings on, you could put makeup on, no matter what, it’s still there. We take away the structure, we take away the bells and white coats, we go strictly by (medical privacy) laws here. It’s a home, it’s a haven — you could say anything, do anything, ask any kinds of questions.”

Hewlett House is decorated in bright colors, and has a living room, a kitchen, a dining area surrounded by windows, media and conference rooms, wig space, and a children’s room.

“It’s always light and bright,” Barish said, “and it makes you feel that way.”

Local teens volunteer at the facility, decorating wig mannequins, making crafts for those with cancer, and learning about the disease.

Marnie Weidenfeld learned about Hewlett House when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the lung, and found comfort in being there. “It’s a happy place,” she said. “We’re together, support each other, bring each other up.”

Now, as a survivor, Weidenfeld works with the organization, offering support to those who come in. “I came here as a patient and never left,” she said. “It’s a special place.”

Barish, a five-time cancer survivor began her journey as a supporter of others with the disease when her son, Michael, was diagnosed in 1974. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986, a week before he died.

Her son’s diagnosis prompted Barish to investigate what might be causing chronic disease in her child and others on Long Island.

She pushed for, and helped create, legislation defraying the cost of medical bills related to cancer. Barish led environmental studies on Long Island to detect carcinogens, and helped lead the effort to label dangerous pesticides — all while fighting through four rounds of cancer herself.

Hewlett House highlighted breast cancer awareness by hosting a fundraiser at South Shore Brewery, in Ocean-side, on Oct. 8, and had other events planned for the month.

“They’re a community organization,” Dan Landerer, who organized the event at the brewery, said, “and one of the things we’re proud of is, we always give back to the community groups that want to give back to the people.”

Hewlett House offers information and support that, Barish said, can help lead people to healthier outcomes.

“People need education, they need to understand it’s not a death sentence,” she said of cancer. “It’s about understanding your illness as best you can, and helping the next person get past what you went through — fighting for survival every second of every day.”

She also recommends genetic testing, to learn if you are at a higher risk for cancer, as well as regular screenings.

For more about Hewlett House, call (516) 374-2385.

Story reflects a correction. Marnie Weidenfeld had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the lung.