Our Mission

  • A beach scene with a starfish on the sand, overlaid with a story titled "The Starfish Story", about an old man and a young woman throwing starfish back into the ocean after a storm.

    Outreach

    We are a community of warriors, survivors, and caregivers — each bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience, and empathy to those newly facing cancer. We lead with love, compassion, and even a little humor to help lighten the hardest days.

    Most of our members find us through word of mouth, survivor referrals, or recommendations from healthcare providers. We do our best to match you with someone who shares a similar diagnosis, surgery, or treatment path, so you never feel alone.

    We also invite you to join our private Facebook support forum — a safe space to ask questions, receive advice, and find encouragement from our entire community, whenever you need it most.

  • Open teal and black tote bag with various items spilling out, including a doll, socks, a hand lotion, a can, and a small box, on a wooden floor.

    Support

    Every new member receives a thoughtfully prepared Survivor Bag — filled with practical items personalized based on each individual’s treatment.

    But our care doesn’t stop there. We continue to provide tangible, hands-on support tailored to each person’s needs.

  • Group of seven people smiling and enjoying a swim in a backyard swimming pool. One woman is seated on a lounge chair in the water, while the others stand or float around her.

    Community & Connection

    We believe healing happens through connection. We coordinate meals, rides, and household help for members and caregivers during treatment or recovery and any other personal needs. Our goal is to remove stress and enable our members and caretakers to concentrate on healing.

    We meet whenever our members need it — no formal agenda, no fixed schedule. Whether it’s a quiet brunch or a healing dinner, we show up with open hearts and full plates.

    Many of our members form lifelong friendships that extend well beyond the group. What begins as support often blossoms into something even deeper: a nurturing, uplifting community built on trust and shared experience.

Reach Out Today
Group of people gathered around a table with Christmas food and treats in a decorated home.
A dining room with a table full of food, including containers, baked goods, and wrapped items, with curtains and sunset view outside the windows.
Seven people, three women, two men, and two elderly women, standing together indoors, smiling and hugging, in front of a red wall with a picture frame.
Red holiday cookie container with a note that reads, 'Cookies for comfort. This holiday season, please know that people are thinking of you. We wish you comfort and joy. Merry Christmas! Love & Kisses.' Placement suggests it contains holiday cookies.
A young girl standing in a kitchen, looking down at a baking sheet with small cookie dough balls drizzled with chocolate. There is a paper plate with chocolate smudges and an open baking chocolate box on the counter.
People wearing face masks and gloves baking and decorating cookies at a holiday gathering, with Christmas wreaths and decorations on a brick fireplace.
A man with glasses, gray hair, and a beard wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue gloves is serving food at a holiday gathering, with trays of cookies and baked goods on the table.
Two women smiling, wearing gloves, holding a tray of food at a community event, with Christmas-themed tablecloth in the foreground.
Group of nine people standing behind a table with holiday treats, with Christmas decor and a wreath in the background.
Four people standing in a room decorated for Christmas, wearing face masks, behind a table with cookies and treats.
A girl wearing a face mask holding a box of baked goods at a table with various food items, including cookies, brownies, and snacks, inside a home.
Two women wearing masks and gloves stand behind a table of assorted baked goods at a gathering or party. One woman is holding a box of food. The table has cookies, brownies, and sandwiches. In the background, kitchen cabinets and a china cabinet are
People wearing face masks and gloves at a Christmas holiday gathering, preparing and serving food on a table in a bright, festive room with large windows and a decorated Christmas tree.
People wearing masks in a kitchen with a table full of cookies and holiday treats, Christmas decorations, and a festive atmosphere.
A girl with brown hair in a ponytail is holding a baking tray with unbaked cookies in a kitchen, smiling at the camera.
People wearing masks gather in a cozy home kitchen and dining area, preparing and distributing food and baked goods at a social event or charity gathering.
People gathered in a living room preparing holiday treats, with Christmas decorations and a Christmas tree visible in the background.
A young girl standing on a porch holding a sign that reads 'Cookies for Comfort' with decorated posters and flower pots, beside a bush.
A table filled with assorted baked goods including cookies, brownies, and bars, with people in the background at an indoor gathering or party.
A table filled with various cookies, including chocolate chip, decorated sugar cookies, and oatmeal cookies, along with boxes and bags, at a bake sale or gathering.
Group of people smiling at a holiday gathering around a table with food, in a cozy living room with a stone fireplace.
Group of people gathered in a decorated room for a holiday event, with tables of food and Christmas decorations such as wreaths, stockings, and trees.

Cookies for Comfort

What began 20 years ago in Linda Cohen’s living room with just 10 volunteers has grown into a cherished community tradition. In those early days, we assembled care packages for people in treatment and for local veterans. As the project grew, it moved from one home to another until we finally outgrew living rooms altogether and shifted to the community room at the senior center.

Today, thanks to the generosity of countless bakers, packers, organizers, and delivery helpers, we prepare up to 150 packages at a time. These are distributed to veterans, seniors, those facing illness, and neighbors in need — with names provided by the VA, local churches, the Council on Aging, Mi Amore, senior living centers, and word of mouth.

Though simple, just a package of cookies, these gifts bring comfort, love, and connection. They remind recipients that they are not alone, while volunteers find joy in giving back together.

A group of 14 people posing outdoors on a bench in a field with grassy hills in the background. They appear to be participating in a breast cancer awareness event, as suggested by pink clothing and ribbons. Some are holding flowers, and there is a pi
A memorial plaque attached to a black metal fence, dedicated to cancer survivors and honoring their courage and compassion. The plaque mentions the Marie Cavaler Patrilli Cancer Research & Treatment Memorial Fund.
Group of people gathered outdoors on a grassy hill, holding red cups, some sitting on benches and others standing, with two dogs visible in the foreground.
Memorial bench decorated with flowers and tribute cards in an outdoor setting.
Group of nine diverse people posing outdoors near a body of water, one person holding a framed certificate.
A memorial bench decorated with flowers and notes, situated on a grassy field.
Group of people outdoors on a grassy field, posing for a photo with some sitting on benches and others standing behind. Children and a dog are also present.
Smiling elderly man and woman outdoors at a gathering, with people in the background and a grassy hill.
Group of women standing behind a black park bench decorated with flowers, outdoors in a grassy field with tall grass and wildflowers.

Bench Ceremonies

For more than 14 years, Survivors by the Sea has gathered at our memorial bench overlooking the ocean — a gift from the Marie C. Petrilli Foundation in 2009. What began as a simple place to sit has become a sacred tradition of remembrance, honoring the lives and spirits of our “angels.” Today, the bench carries the names of more than 80 loved ones who remain forever part of our community. The ceremonies are a reminder that though our loved ones may no longer be physically present, they are always with us. Together, we honor their strength, love, and light, ensuring their memory continues to shine in our lives and in this special place by the sea.

In 2016, the Bono/Bayersdorfer family arranged to have a star named for us. It is called SBTS Hope, and it’s located in the southern sky, in the Orion constellation. So when you sit on the bench, you—and all of our angels—are looking at our star.

That same year, we met Sally O’Shea at the MGH 100 event. During her treatment, Sally used her sewing skills to create and share small star-shaped sacks made of colorful fabric and filled with millet. A local newspaper ran the caption: “Sally O’Shea sends her bright light to others with cancer.”

Whoa! Coincidence? I don’t think so.

These stars can be held, juggled, or tossed in a game of catch. They can be used to meditate, to ease anxiety, and to absorb sorrow. For us, they serve as a connection between angels, warriors, and their caregivers. Our warrior families use them during treatment to feel connected at all times. We offer you these stars to take home, as a reminder that you and your angel are always connected.