It is 3 years since Lydia first encountered breast cancer, she was 44 years old then. Lydia is a mother of a son 27 years old and a daughter 21 years old, no grand children. She is the youngest of 5 sisters, with one brother.The thought of facing breast cancer was shocking to her and to the family, as she was the only one in the entire family who had the disease.
In March 2013, a lump suddenly appeared and Lydia went immediately to the doctor. The result was an early diagnosis of breast cancer which later led to a masectomy. Lydia was blessed not to go through the experience of chemotherapy and radiation. She attributes her survival to early detection.
While in hospital with the experience of this dilemma, she became acutely aware of the lack of information available to sufferers of this disease. How much women in Cape Town and especially in our low income area, are going through the same breast cancer dilemma and how much patients are depressed.
The bread winners that can't afford a prothesis (false breast) let alone food, clothing, blankets, rent, awareness and support. She thought why should anyone or a family ever have to make such life changing decisions without support.
With the knowledge of the available options and exposure to the people who care, she felt the seed of caring even more for others was grafted into her heart. It was at this crucial moment in her life Lydia that applied for registration in June 2013. The Breast Care Foundation was then later approved by social development September 2013.
After matriculating Lydia worked for Avroy Shlain Cosmetics at a young age of 18 years old. She was trained as a beauty consultants and progressed to Manageress to Area Manageress. In this role, she then trained +- 50 employees, maintained sales targets, achieved invitation to an overseas trip to Rio de Janeiro , Buenos Aries & Disney World (USA) and was granted a merit award for growth.
She then worked for Edgars V&A Waterfront for a short while deciding to work for Nutri Health Africa beta science from Johannesburg. She was trained by Dr Robin Peterson on vitamins and health and progressed from Team Leader to Gold Director Trainer. She was also a awarded a second trip to Rio de Janeiro.
Lydia then assisted a NPO with fund raising and projects. Lydia can now motivate through her experiences and deliver a message of hope to women, families and communities.
Her desire is to help others.
Breast Care Foundation is a recognised and respected registered Section 18 NPO and depends on there own fundraising to assist women, families, hospitals, children, destitute with life saving information and assistance of food parcels, clothing, blankets, soup kitchens, stationery, etc. Nothing successful is ever accomplished alone as Lydia has a strong team of employees, sponsors, consultants to deliver help those in need.
Breast Care Foundation's mission is to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer and to assist with early detection. We also assist with awareness of HIV. They aim to be a support service by assisting those beneficiaries (disabilities, destitute, pensioners) with low income range, with food parcels and mammograms.
As we grow, Breast Care Foundation would like to move to a bigger premises to make and design prosthesis, make daily awareness talks available and to assist beneficiaries daily with food, clean clothes and blankets.
CEO / Public Officer : Lydia Alexander
Chairperson : Sasha-Lee Coetzee
Treasurer : Leroy Alexander
Deputy Chairperson : Maureen Barandella
Telemarketer / Project Manageress : Samantha Rustin
Auditor : Mark Gore (Chartered Accounts SA)
The Breast Care Foundation, under the Leadership of Mrs Lydia Alexander, has been supporting the Heideveld ARV clinic with food parcel alternative meals, since February 2014.
The Breast Care Foundation saw the need to provide the much needed food parcels as many HIV positive patients are too well to qualify for a social relief grant but too sick to work. This means that many clients default on their treatment as they cannot take the treatment on an empty stomach. The Breast Care Foundation stepped in and have increased their food parcels from 25 in February to 50 in June.
The Organization really sees to the need of the disadvantaged people and therefore the Management - and the ARV team at Heldeveld CDC hereby recommend that the Breast Care Foundation be considered for the much needed funds as requested.
- Mrs A Abrahams, Facility Manager (Western Cape - Government Health), 15 September 2014
On behalf of the Bel Porto School, Principal, Staff and Learners, I thank you so much for your visit, gifts and support.
The Bel Porto School encourages Outreach Programmes, engaging with organisations such as the Breast Care Foundation (BCF) to interact with the schools staff and children.
(The Bel Porto Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Bel Porto School playing an important role in maintaining the standards needed in specialized education as well as supplement the schools shortfall).
It is evident that the BCF is transparent and promoting Awareness Programmes which will only benefit their organisation in the future.
I look forward to a long relationship, commitment and support from the BCF. Well done Lydia and her team!
- Judy Sobotker, Fundraising Co-ordinatian (Bel Porto Foundation), 12 September 2014
On behalf of The Salvation Army Carehaven and particularly the abused women and their children currently staying at the Centre, we would like to thank you most sincerely for the donation of off cut materials for job creations.
Over the past year we accommodated 554 ladies and their children. They mostly have nothing when they escape to Carehaven and so feeding, clothing and providing for their needs is quite costly especially with up to 50 abused women and their children at a time. Our running costs are extremely high and we rely heavily on kind donations for support.
We really appreciate all the help we can get in this ministry. Without you, our caring donors we would not be able to continue.
Thank you once again for sharing in our mission of bringing hope, help and healing to these vulnerable women and their traumatized children.
- Frankie Burgoyne (Major), Administrator (Salvation Army), 08 July 2015
The staff and management of Leliebloem House Child and Youth Care Centre wishes to acknowledge and Thank you for the donations of yoghurt that you guys so generously donated.
With your generous contributions we are able to make a bigger impact in the lives of our children.
We have 84 children in need of specialist care and intervention. The Centre offers the least restrictive environment for children placed via the children's courts. We are committed to the principle of "improving the quality of life".
Thank you that you are willing to help and that you do it with a kind heart, we really appreciate your involvement. Together we are making a huge impact.
- Claudine Joshua, Financial Manager(LelieBloem - Child & Youth Care Centre), 10 October 2014
On behalf of our congregation we wish to express our thanks to you for the support you have given to our chunch. Your support thus far has been a great big help regarding feeding the poor in our community. Without your generosity, we would not be able to continue to help so many.
May God bless you and our prayers will always be with you for success in your business.
- Bishop HA Elliot, Moving Gospel Mission of SA
Interested in connecting with a larger community? We'd love to hear from you!
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