Our Mission
Saving Pennies 4 A Cure is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to changing the lives of breast cancer patients. Saving Pennies provides necessary care items for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We aim to ease the burden on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by providing custom care packages. Our packages include items intended to educate patients on adverse treatment effects and to make the overall process easier. In addition, we provide resources that emphasize the importance of self-care and self-advocacy.
We advocate for diversity in clinical trials. Did you know that only 5% of minorities are included in clinical trials? Yet, the human body differs across races. For example, breast tissue was found to be different in Black women in comparison to White women. Trials of Color, a sister organization, was created to ensure diversity in clinical trials and broaden the research needed to find a cure for ALL people.
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
Vincent Van Gogh
Our Vision
We are stronger together. With access to our resources, we envision a future where breast cancer patients and survivors can become financially and emotionally empowered throughout their recovery journey.
Our Founder
The founder, Sharon Rivera, is a triple-negative breast cancer survivor who turned her fight into a burning desire to empower other breast cancer patients. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a rare form of breast cancer where the tumor does not have any of the three most common receptors that fuel breast cancer growth. This makes TNBC difficult to treat since the tumor can't be directly targeted. Sharon Rivera now takes part in blood testing studies with the Pink Lotus Foundation to detect recurrences sooner for other breast cancer patients.
When they told me it was Triple Negative, I thought that was good thing. I was excited. I thought, "I'm negative, that's great."
Sharon Rivera
Founder's Note
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Sharon Rivera
Many people have never heard of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and I was one of them until I was diagnosed with it. As mentioned before, TNBC is a difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer since it does not have any of the three common receptor sites. When they told me it was Triple Negative, I thought that was a good thing. I was excited. I thought "I'm negative. That's great." And the surgeon shook his head and said "No, that's not good." I was diagnosed after a routine mammogram in 2016. I never missed my annual appointment and had no family history of breast cancer. TNBC is known to be aggressive, which I learned early on. When I was initially diagnosed, my lump measured one centimeter. Five weeks later, it was two centimeters. So already, within a five-week span, the tumor had grown. I underwent surgery and completed my chemo and radiation Later that year, but it took a toll on my body. I definitely had days where I didn't want to fight. My fight is far from over. TNBC has the highest recurrence and lowest survival rates of all the breast cancer subtypes, according to the Pink Lotus Foundation.