Hillary Sweet, of Commack, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. At the time she didn’t know anyone who had the disease. “There was a lot of fear involved,” she recalls. “I was very depressed and my support group was not a good experience, plus my kids had no one to talk to.” After completing her treatment, which included a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, she now says, “I felt like I was one of the lucky ones.”
Another local woman, Barbara Daniels, was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer and asked Hillary for advice. “I became her mentor and friend,” Hillary remembers fondly. Sadly, in 2006, Barbara succumbed to the disease, and when Hillary went to Barbara’s wake, she saw how the women who had breast cancer sought each other out for comfort. It was then that Hillary knew she wanted to give something back to the community that was dedicated to Barbara’s memory.

Hillary, along with her husband, Michael, and Barbara’s husband, Jeff, founded the non-profit organization Friends for Life Foundation (FFLF) as a unique breast cancer group that provides positive support to breast cancer survivors, family members and caregivers. “I wanted to focus on life, like Barbara did,” says Hillary. “I wanted [a group] that would be there for women that was positive and inspirational like she was.”

Each person’s experience with cancer is unique and trying to find the human side of this insidious disease is no easy task.

FFLF encourages women to become part of the group by getting acquainted on the FFLF message board, which is monitored by professionals, Hillary explains. “The message board is women guiding each other.” The new member is invited to a monthly support-group meeting that is held at Hillary and Michael’s home and is united with her online mentor. In this family-style, homey atmosphere, FFLF’s members share positive experiences in an informal but educational setting. “If you cry, it’s OK, you get energy from the group,” Hillary explains. FFLF also offers four sessions of housecleaning, free yoga every Saturday, meals through a food service company, Reiki, meditation, pain management, nutrition advice, and transportation to radiation and chemotherapy treatments, all at no charge.

Children are a major focus and their Kids for Life (KFL) group offers the opportunity for children to bond and communicate with their peers. “We feel it’s so important for them. It’s like a youth group,” says Hillary. There are currently more than 20 children involved in KFL who participate in different activities including making “Feel Better” cards that are packaged with a pillow and lap blanket for chemotherapy patients and delivered by the children on field trips to Huntington Hospital and Sloan Kettering.

FFLF also established a scholarship program for high school students whose families are affected by breast cancer. They awarded three scholarships last year to Commack High School seniors, including one to Max Daniels, Barbara’s son. This year they hope to double the money awarded and are producing a fundraiser on March 14, featuring an Evening of Comedy with Alan Zweibel, the award-winning comedian from Saturday Night Live.

In addition to her work at FFLF, Hillary enjoys a successful career as a fixed income strategist with First Empire Securities in Hauppauge. Hillary and Michael continue to work with Barbara’s husband, Jeff, on helping other women, their families and caretakers through a very difficult time. Hillary says, “Our mission is to find you a new normal.”

For more information go to www.friendsforlifefoundation.org or call Hillary at 631-881-0875 or email hillary@friendsforlifefoundation.org.

If you know a super woman who deserves good Fortune—and a profile—e-mail your nominations to Beverly at bfortune@longislandpress.com.