Cynthia Cote, Myra Kraft MVP Winner!
Cynthia Cote is one of 26 people to be chosen from over 250 nominees from across New England to receive the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for her outstanding work with the Betty J Borry Breast Cancer Retreats.
On Wednesday, June 8, 26 volunteers were recognized for their contributions at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In total, $275,000 in donations were distributed to the nonprofits represented by each volunteer. BJBBCR was awarded $10,000 in honor of Cynthia's years of dedication.
For the past 27 years Cynthia Cote has been helping women with breast cancer from all over the New England area to foster an attitude of survivorship. The Betty J Borry Breast Cancer Retreats provides adventure based opportunities for women of all ages and stages of breast cancer. They get women outdoors to connect with one another, challenge themselves physically and emotionally, discover their strengths, and make the journey from surviving to thriving.
Cynthia has served in a variety of leadership roles with the organization right from the beginning when Betty herself hand picked her to make her vision a reality.
In Cynthia Cote’s own words: “In 1994, I was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer requiring treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, enrolled in a clinical trial for a stem cell transplant in addition to surgery, followed by radiation therapy. That began a new chapter in my life journey entering the world of cancer treatment and thankfully survivorship. It was during my recovery from treatment that I attended an “outward bound” style breast cancer retreat for women of all ages and stages of breast cancer called Adventure Weekend created by breast cancer survivor, Betty J Borry and sponsored by the American Cancer Society. It was exactly what I needed to live my life after breast cancer leading me to the non-profit world, creating several breast cancer organizations to support, empower and enhance their quality of life. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Co-founder, Board President, Executive Director and Retreat Facilitator of the Betty J Borry Breast Cancer Adventure Retreats for the past 27 years. This has been a personal and professional culmination of my lifework to create an opportunity for women of all ages and stages of breast cancer to connect with other women who share the same journey. Over 1,000 women have attended our breast cancer retreats finding understanding, support and empowerment while challenging themselves physically and emotionally through adventure-based activities and the healing power of nature. Together, we have moved from surviving to thriving after breast cancer.”
