Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Brown
Hi Katherine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My identical twin sister was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2015 when we were just barely 31 years old. She traveled for treatment on a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. Because her treatment wasn’t FDA approved yet, all treatments took place in New York which meant trips up there every 3 weeks. She had 2 young children when she was diagnosed and worked fulltime. It was a terrifying and overwhelming situation. We were fortunate to have supportive family, friends, and employers who all helped make sure she and her family had the care they needed. Through her experience, I realized how few resources exist for young adults facing cancer. In 2017, I started The Boon Project to help fill in the gaps in resources and support.
In the 8 years since we started, we’ve grown our programs based on the needs of the demographic we support. We don’t provide medical advice or treatment, but rather focus on the psychosocial needs of young adults impacted by cancer. This demographic faces increased rates of isolation, depression, financial toxicity, being both caregiver and patient, working through treatment, struggling to get started in life while juggling treatments and side effects, and more. We look for opportunities to come alongside young adult cancer patients and provide a sense of community for them. Our motto is “Community is Healing” and that guides our programming.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We’re fortunate to be one of the few nonprofits who has survived beyond the 5 year mark (rare in the nonprofit world). I believe this is because we’re meeting an important need. Our local community has been crucial in helping us continue to grow and meet the needs of those we serve even through some major obstacles like Covid.
Covid was definitely our single greatest obstacle since we started in 2017. When your motto is “Community is Healing,” how do you live that when gathering together could quite literally kill the people you serve? Our demographic is immunocompromised and infections like flu, covid, RSV, etc could be fatal for them or at least delay lifesaving cancer treatments. Their safety is our top priority so for almost 2 years, our programming moved to be almost entirely virtual. It was difficult for us as an organization to make sure we were meeting the needs of those we served while also keeping them safe. Fortunately, we made it past that time and even developed some new strategies to reach those who may not be able to attend our in person events. We learned from it and have continued to grow since then.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Boon Project?
The Boon Project exists to combat the increased rates of isolation and depression in young adults facing cancer. We provide free monthly social gatherings for patients and survivors to connect, encourage, and support one another through understanding and shared experiences. We also provide financial assistance to local young adult cancer patients to help reduce the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis. Our fitness force program provides opportunities and accountability for survivors working to “find their fit” after cancer. We are the only local nonprofit working to support the needs of young adult cancer patients and survivors.
I’m proud of our work to advocate on behalf of an overlooked demographic. In the last 8 years our organization has developed relationships with local oncology practices and hospitals, providers, and other patient facing roles. Fostering those relationships and learning from one another to better serve young adults facing cancer is important work. We’ve come along way in making sure that needs are met, but we have a long way to go still.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It’s hard to pinpoint one single lesson. I learn something everyday. Every patient we serve has had a unique experience and teaches me something about how to better understand those we serve, meet their needs, and advocate for them.
I guess the single greatest lesson I’ve learned and tried to pass on is to have grace. Assume that people are trying their best and want to do what is best for themselves and others. Cancer and the nonprofit world can be frustrating at times, but operating on the assumption that we are all trying to do good helps stay focused on the mission and those we serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boonproject.org
- Instagram: @boonprojectyac
- Facebook: @theboonprojectforyoungadultsfightingcancer
