Founder establishes Sense of Security for women with breast cancer

(Oct. 30, 2008) Women living in tough financial situations find themselves having to choose between food and prescription drugs, car insurance and co-pays, or rent and medical bills when they have breast cancer. Who is there to help?

Sense of Security, founded by Vicki Tosher, professional research assistant at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, is the only organization of its kind in Colorado. Inspired by a friend’s struggle, Tosher, at right, initiated Sense of Security in 2000 to provide comprehensive, sustained financial assistance. Because in some cases basic living expenses for the duration of breast cancer treatment can be overwhelming. This program aims to relieve financial stress and ensure energy is spent on healing and recovery.

Grantees get help with finances to avoid losing their homes, providing food, or child care costs. Sense of Security knows how breast cancer can impact the entire household and the value of family and friends involved in the patient's treatment and recovery.

This year, Sense of Security will hit two major milestones in its mission to provide a sense of financial security for Colorado breast cancer patients. Before the end of 2008, they will have paid out $1 million toward housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, COBRA or insurance premiums and other basic living expenses of breast cancer patients. And they will have assisted their 500th Colorado breast cancer patient.*

Vicki Tosher, Sense of Security founder; Judy Baxter, assistant professor at UC Denver School of Medicine and president of Sense of Security; and Nancy Olson, executive director of Sense of Security work together in this effort.  

Robin, a Sense of Security grantee, currently undergoing treatment at University of Colorado Cancer Center, was diagnosed in March with breast cancer and simultaneously found out she’d lost her job when the company she was working for was acquired—she went from making six figures to making none. The financial burden was huge especially with her health insurance increasing to more than $500 a month. But because of Sense of Security’s monthly stipend, Robin is able to pay her rent and her health insurance. Robin, a volunteer resource director of Katrina’s Angels, says that Sense of Security has been a lifeline for her and because of it, she is able to help others who are in worse situations than she is. She is currently job hunting and believes her last treatment at the University of Colorado Cancer Center will be in January 2009.

A benefit for Sense of Security, Champagne & Diamonds, will take place on Nov. 8. For more information or sponsorship, *check out http://www.senseofsecurity.org, or 303-669-3113.