South Brunswick Woman Continues Providing Hope for Cancer Patients

An Earth shattering diagnosis like cancer can leave people shaken to their core, as they face a flood of emotions with many questions to be answered.

Faced with expensive and physically exhausting medical treatments, mundane issues like transportation or simple daily tasks can become increasingly difficult. South Brunswick resident Cheryl Confalone knows all too well these struggles, having been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2010.

As a result, last year Confalone and her family started the Day by Day Hope Foundation, a group that provides help with day to day needs for those battling cancer, in addition to assisting with financial, legal and insurance issues. The foundation also offers assistance in everything from meals and yard work to grocery shopping for those who need help.

"We're doing really well for a small foundation and we've been able to help a lot of people with things like meals and driving them back and forth to the doctor," Confalone said. "We've helped people get money so their family isn't going into collections after they pass away. We have lost a lot of patients, unfortunately, and we also have some who are still fighting. But according to a doctor for one of our patients, this is foundation that was missing from what they had to offer people."

Through her own battle with cancer, Confalone realized there's a shortage of help available for people fighting cancer unless it's a child or a person eligible for social services. She launched the foundation with a vision to provide a support network for middle income families. 

"It's important that people understand what we do. For people of middle income or who are self employed, we provide something that is not out there," she said. "We help with any type of cancer. It doesn't matter how old you are, as long as you're not indigent or wealthy. All they have to do is call and we're here."

Geralyn Berkery, a former Kendall Park resident who now lives in East Windsor, turned to the Day By Day Hope Foundation after she lost a family member to advanced metastatic cancer. The family then faced mounting medical claims and calls from collection agencies.

"They taught us to read billing codes and helped us to resolve thousands of dollars in claims,” Berkery said. “The foundation also provided much needed encouragement in the midst of our grief.”

Confalone, who has operated a holistic healthcare practice since 1989 with her husband, said that being self-employed brought her to the realization that health insurance coverage left a lot to be desired.

Middle class citizens fighting cancer might not realize what kind of help is available to them, beyond the fact that insurance companies do not offer the kind of assistance needed when battling a terminal illness, according to Confalone.

"We've done a lot of work on insurance because of how badly insurance companies screw people, so we help with getting insurance coverage and medicaid," she said. "That's one of the most important things, so we assist people by matching them with social workers and lawyers who donate their time.

"People need to know there is a foundation out there who will help them get what's coming to them. People often don't like to ask for help, but you can't always do it yourself."

As part of their ongoing fundraising efforts, the Day By Day Hope Foundation will host its second annual “Ladies Day Out” event on June 2, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Family Karate Super Center in Monmouth Junction.

Vendors at the event include Pampered Chef, Cake Pops by Bonnie, Tastefully Simple, 31 Bags, My Sister's Spangle, Barefoot Books, Origami Owl, Mary Kay, It's All About the Mouse Travel, Dove Chocolate, Lia Sophia, Massage Luxe, Astonishing Portraits by Colleen, David Lerner & Assoc., Sweets by Lovey, Tupperware and Party Lite.

A $5 donation covers entrance, a raffle ticket and refreshments.

"We'll have a local musician playing, a popcorn machine, face painting for the kids, and vendors donating things to give away," Confalone said. "This event helps provide our seed money. It's a really fun day where people can come and shop, but we hope they leave with much more than that."

While fundraising is a vital aspect for any charity to make an impact, Confalone said the true reward for the all-volunteer foundation is the daily impact it has on those in need of a helping hand.

"Collecting money to keep the foundation going is important, but for the people we help it's not about money. It's about driving them somewhere they need to go," she added. "It's about getting their house clean or sitting with them when they're getting chemo so they're not alone. Those are things we do that don't require money, just people. And we have people. So the main goal for us right now is to let people know that we're here and that we'll help."

Click here for more information on the Day by Day Hope Foundation, or click here to visit their Facebook page.