Breast Friends was organized in 2006 as a team of individuals donating time and effort in fundraising for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day. In 2007, in memory of our founder, Lori Dragonetti, we changed our name to Lori’s Breast Friends but continued with our same mission to raise money to find a cure for cancer. We dedicated countless hours over those four years, raising more than $100,000 for the Boston Breast Cancer 3-Day. With our commitment to finding a cure and our growth in mind, we applied to become a registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization in the 2010-2011 fundraising season. After the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure left the Boston area in 2013, LBF amended its mission to support any cancer-related, registered 501(c)(3) charities.
As of January 2023, we have raised more than $263,000 for the fight against breast cancer!
As with many charitable organizations, we have a very personal reason as to why we raise money in support of finding a cure for cancer. Her name is Lori Dragonetti. She was a wife; a mother of three incredible young boys; a daughter; a sister; our friend. In the fall of 2005, Lori was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a mastectomy all just before her middle son’s 4th birthday. By August 2006, she was dedicated to this cause, leading our team in its first 3-Day walk. That year alone, Lori and two other women raised just under $20,000.
In January 2007, a routine scan revealed a “spot” on her lung. Unclear at the time if it was related to her original breast cancer diagnosis or a new cancer all together, Lori kept her smile and her good spirits and continued her fight to raise money is support of finding a cure. By August 2007, Lori’s Breast Friends had raised another $30,000 but unfortunately, Lori was not well enough to walk with us. Lori underwent more treatment for her cancer including chemo, radiation and more surgery: this time to remove two lobes of her lungs. Lori never quite recovered from that surgery. Shortly after her discharge, Lori returned to the hospital plagued by constant pain in her back. More testing revealed the cancer had spread to her spine and eventually to her brain. In September 2007, after a long courageous battle with cancer, Lori Dragonetti passed away. She was 33.
So many advances have been made with early detection and treatment, but it is still not good enough. We continue to support teams who raise money for cancer-related, registered charities because we want to see an end to cancer.