The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation 5th Annual Brunch on May 3, 2009, at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie honored the Dyson Foundation and the memory of its former President, Dr. Anne Dyson. Over 400 guests attended the function for a silent auction, brunch, a slide show of the past year’s activities and the presentation of an award to Mr. Dyson representing his family foundation.

“This year we didn’t know how the community would be impacted by the recession,” said Dana Effron, Co-Founder of Miles of Hope. “But as it turns out, the attendance was the same as last year and the Silent Auction made even more money than ever before.”

Final numbers are still pending, however, preliminarily, the Spring Brunch brought in $108,105 to Miles of Hope for support services for people affected by breast cancer in the eight counties of the Hudson Valley.

“We don’t fund research,” explained Cathy Varunok, the Foundation’s other Co-Founder. “We figure there are enough organizations out there funding the next medical breakthroughs and we are indebted to them and salute them. But we saw a need right here in our community for support for people in treatment for breast cancer and we aim to fill it every day.”

Miles of Hope has funded programs at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, Benedictine Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Barrett House, Support Connection of Yorktown, Cancer Support Team of Mamaroneck, Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Centers in Newburgh, Family of Woodstock in Kingston, just to name a few.

“All money raised in the Hudson Valley stays in the Hudson Valley, helping our friends, colleagues and family,” stated Lisa Arnoff, Brunch Committee Chairman.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501-c-3 non-profit public charity established to provide funding for programs and services supporting those affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.

Read more information and see more photos on our brunch page.