BBF has awarded a fourth grant to Keepers of the Flame, a Georgia-based organization providing essential mental health counseling for women undergoing or recently completing breast cancer treatment. The $5,000 grant will continue supporting a pilot program that offers trauma-informed therapy to breast cancer patients navigating the emotional toll of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

BBF first partnered with Keepers of the Flame in March 2024, recognizing the urgent need for accessible mental health support in the region. Since that time, the pilot program has provided 83 hours of free therapy, offering a lifeline to women in one of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives. The program serves communities across Georgia where barriers to mental health care—including cost, stigma, and geographic isolation—too often prevent women from receiving the care they need.

“BBF understands that healing doesn’t stop at physical treatment,” said Laura Kelly, BBF’s Vice President of Communications and Development, who traveled to Georgia to attend Keepers of the Flame’s annual fundraiser and present the check in person. “It continues long after the doctor’s visits end—through the trauma, the isolation, the fears we rarely say aloud.”

During the event, Kelly addressed an audience of survivors, caregivers, and supporters with a message that was both personal and powerful. “I am a breast cancer survivor,” she shared. “I know what it means to sit in that chair and wonder if life will ever feel ‘normal’ again. I’ve walked through the fear, the scars, and the uncertainty. And I’ve come out stronger, more aware of life’s beauty—and the sacred role that community plays in our healing.”

Keepers of the Flame’s pilot therapy program was founded to fill that very need for community and connection. The organization’s peer-centered model combines professional therapy services with community support and wellness education, helping women build resilience and regain confidence as they move forward in life after cancer. Their work is especially impactful in rural and underserved counties in Georgia, where access to licensed counselors and culturally responsive care is limited.

“This community represents the power of connection, support, and advocacy,” Kelly said. “You don’t just raise awareness—you lift people up, and BBF is proud to walk beside you.”

The grant presented at the fundraiser is part of BBF’s broader Blossoming Beyond initiative, which funds survivorship care and mental health services for breast cancer patients both in the U.S. and internationally. In Georgia, that support has become a beacon of hope for women who might otherwise face their cancer journey alone.

“Together, we are lighting the way for healing, hope, and brighter tomorrows,” Kelly concluded. “This gift is a symbol of our gratitude—and a reminder that you are never alone in this fight.”

With continued support from BBF and other partners, Keepers of the Flame remains committed to ensuring no woman faces breast cancer without the support she needs to truly heal—mind, body, and spirit.