Linda Halloran

Co-founder & President

Diagnosed in 1999 with stage 2 Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. The doctors said it was aggressive and the treatment would be strong: a lumpectomy, four rounds of chemotherapy, and 30 radiation sessions. She was 34, married, with a four-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, and she owned a hair salon. She seemed to have it all. She simply had no time for cancer. After surgery she went to her first support group and didn't feel a connection with anyone there, but she knew the support of family and friends wasn't enough on its own. She turned toward her faith, and toward other women's survivor stories, which helped her body and her mind alike. Later she found another group, and there she found what she needed. Giving that back became her life's work, and it is why she started this one.

Tina Marie Shenko

Co-founder & Vice President

In 2008, Tina was diagnosed with stage 3 ER/PR-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer. She was 36 years old, with four children aged 11, 9, 6 and 2. Her treatment included a chemotherapy regimen of Taxol and Herceptin, followed by a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, more chemotherapy with Adriamycin and Cytoxan, then radiation, and finally a full year of Herceptin.

Feeling completely overwhelmed, Tina searched for a support group to help her deal with the emotional and physical issues that most women are forced to face with breast cancer. She located a group in Worcester, and there she met Linda Halloran. Linda and the other women of the group gave Tina the support she needed to keep fighting — but most of all, they offered her HOPE.

HOPE that she would fully recover from this disease. HOPE that she would live to see her children grow. HOPE that she would have a long and healthy life alongside her husband. Tina’s goal is to give that same HOPE and support back to other women facing a breast cancer diagnosis.