It started with suffering and ended with a mission and a ministry. When Pat Hogge’s daughter Mitzi was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, the entire family was overwhelmed. And Mitzi’s treatment for her estrogen positive cancer wasn’t a walk in the park.

After a lumpectomy brought a diagnosis of breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, the doctors started chemotherapy. However, Mitzi’s body was not strong enough to handle the massive doses of chemo. So, the chemotherapy treatment was changed to a lower dose and an extended period of time. That was followed by six weeks of radiation.

What Pat learned from walking this path with her daughter was that the entire family is affected when one member of that family has cancer. Besides the obvious fears and uncertainty after receiving the diagnosis, there’s the discomfort and suffering associated with the treatment itself. However, Pat pointed out, “That’s not all of it. Expenses associated with all of this can be devastating, and some people end up having to choose between treatment and basic needs.”

Having experienced all those things, Pat and Mitzi decided to do something about it. Their decision eventually led to the birth of “Ribbons of Hope.” Ribbons of Hope is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that ministers to and meets the financial needs of cancer patients and their families in Talladega and St. Clair Counties. And they go the extra mile in doing it.

Ribbons of Hope is manned by volunteers, so all moneys can be directed toward the needs of those families. Pat told me, “We provide money for power bills, co-pays, prescriptions and anything else to help them get treatment, regardless of their ability to pay. And we continue to provide financial assistance for as long as they are in treatment.”

This group puts new meaning into an Alabama “get ‘er done” frame of mind. Pat told me one situation where a cancer patient had missed three treatments because the patient had to be transported by ambulance, and the family didn’t have the money to pay for it. Pat got on the phone and began calling until she found someone who would work with her to make it affordable, and the patient received the transportation she needed.

Ribbons of Hope is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best non-profits in our area. In fact, they were voted the best non-profit organization by the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce in 2015. Being the best is good. Being the best out of 157 candidates is even better. 

Like any other non-profit, money is always an issue, and they can only meet the needs of others if the finances are there to do it. Some of their upcoming fund raisers include:

• 1^st Annual Talladega Witches Ride and 2^nd Annual Sylacauga Witches Ride (Simultaneously October 27)
• 11^th Annual Charity Benefits Auction (October 28)  
• Haunted House Tour of Talladega (November 2)
• Thanksgiving Dinner at Rick’s Crossroads (November 5) 

For more information, you can visit their website at ribbonsofhopeal.org or their Facebook page. You can also email them at ribbonsofhopeal@gmail.com. The picture, which accompanies this article is available as a t-shirt. And what could be better than having someone say, “Because of you, I didn’t give up?”  Ribbons of Hope—Doing the unexpected, and doing it well.