July is lovingly sponsored by Kandace McGuire, MD
As we continue with our reflection on The Heart of the Matter, we invite you to explore the unique journey of our calendar ambassadors and learn more about what it truly means to be here for the girls. Our mission is grounded in compassionate support, emotional well-being, and the power of community. Together, we face breast cancer with strength, hope, and heart.
Meet the Co-Founders: Mary Beth and René
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one." —C.S. Lewis
The H4TG story dates back to 2006 when Mary Beth Gibson and René Bowditch met at a retreat for breast cancer survivors. Facing this disease as young women opened their eyes to the gap in services to address their unique challenges and the limited resources for finding peers who “got it”— those who understood the concerns, needs, and fears they faced because of their age. Mary Beth and René developed a shared passion to support young women.
They began by inviting young women with breast cancer to René’s home in Virginia to share encouragement and information. These monthly meetings blossomed in 2007 into a nonprofit they named “Beyond Boobs!” During those first meetings, these two developed their model of providing intimate, peer-led support in a comfortable environment. As the organization evolved, Mary Beth and René helped grow new support systems around Virginia and beyond and added program services.