Replacing Fear with Hope During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1, 2025 – October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at Lee Health Cancer Institute, Hopetober raises awareness and support for breast cancer patients and their families.
Breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women, impacting 1 in 8 during their lifetime. When these women begin their fight against cancer, they often face battles beyond the cancer itself from the emotional toll to financial strains. Each year, hundreds of patients in Southwest Florida turn to Lee Health for exceptional care, advanced treatments, and critical support services. Donations help provide access to breakthrough technology and treatments, comprehensive support services, and financial assistance.
“Hopetober is about more than pink ribbons. It’s about ensuring our patients receive the best care close to home,” said Patti Chlipala, senior director of development at Lee Health Foundation. “We cannot do this without the generosity of our community. Every gift makes an immediate impact for families fighting breast cancer right here in Southwest Florida.”
Lee Health Cancer Institute provides comprehensive, compassionate care that, in addition to a treatment plan, offers complementary therapies and services to support patients’ body, mind and spirit. Added this year to the programs and services available for patients, Cancer Support Community (CSC) at Lee Health Cancer Institute offers a wide range of support groups and wellness programs at no cost, designed specifically for people living with cancer or those affected by it. CSC is funded solely by the generosity of donations given by the community. Most importantly, patients and their loved ones do not have to travel far to find state-of-the-art, compassionate care. Lee Health’s cancer-fighting teams include oncologists, nurse navigators, dieticians, genetic counselors, and more to support patients throughout their cancer journey.
One grateful patient, Paula Hill shared:
“If you were recently diagnosed, I would reach out to your family for support. I would reach out at Lee Health Cancer Institute, find a nurse navigator. They will guide you and help you with everything you need from support, financial therapy, nutrition. It was a godsend for me. I am a survivor. Lee Health Cancer Institute helped me, guided me every step of my treatment, every step during and now after. I would wish and hope that everyone had a Lee Health in their area to help them get through this stage, get through every stage of this disease because it’s not easy. Everyone needs a Lee Health- compassionate, friendly, and honest and open.
To learn more about Hopetober or to make a donation, visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/Hopetober.
About Lee Health Foundation
Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic support on behalf of community-focused nonprofit Lee Health to establish, expand, and enhance lifesaving and preventive programs in Southwest Florida. Contributions to the Foundation benefit all five Lee Health hospitals, including Golisano Children’s Hospital and the future Lee Health Fort Myers campus, as well as key service areas such as Lee Health Cancer Institute, Lee Health Coconut Point, Lee Health Heart Institute, Community Health Clinics, Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples and the Pediatric Specialty Clinic in Port Charlotte. In the past year, the Foundation provided more than $27 million in funding to enhance patient care throughout the region. Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call 239-343-6950 for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida.
