Welcome to the YSC Northern New Jersey! YSC NNJ was founded by Lisa Marie Muccilo in January 2002. Her inspirational leadership, passion and dedication to helping young women with breast cancer inspire all that we do. Although we lost Lisa Marie in August 2003, her examples of strength and determination still guide us today.

Today, YSC NNJ members include breast cancer survivors, family and friends as well as people who care about the issues breast cancer poses for young women. You do not need to be a breast cancer survivor to be a part of the YSC! As with all other local YSC groups, some members have never been diagnosed with breast cancer but realize that breast cancer affects us all.

You Are Not Alone Networking Events & Volunteer Oppportunities

Frequently our chapter holds fun and creative networking events for survivors and supporters throughout our service area.

In March, the YSC's Networking Event was at Ethos Fitness Spa for Women in Midland Park, NJ. The evening featured a lecture on practicing mindfulness and optimizing your health, followed by a half hour class on yoga and meditation by certified yoga instructor Scott Brassel.

According to Charisse Duroure, general manager, Ethos regularly offers its members a variety of small group training programs, seminars and discussion groups and lectures on topics relevant to your lifestyle. "Women of any age can be affected by breast cancer. Ethos is very responsive in working with women's issues in the health arena and we are pleased to offer our beautiful location for this important event," said Duroure.

More than 20 breast cancer survivors and friends of the YSC attended the March 18 "You Are Not Alone"
Networking Event at Ethos Fitness Spa for Women in Midland Park.

Also in March, volunteers from YSC National and Northern New Jersey set up a small display area within the Dream Photo booth at the 2008 NY Auto Show. Over the course of two days, more than 800 YSC brochures were distributed to show attendees. A special thank you goes to Daniel Coyle Photography for donating space to the YSC to convey its message. Also, a special thank you is extended to show management for supporting our efforts.

YSC Northern NJ Volunteers on a mission to drive out breast cancer at the 2008 NY Auto Show.
From left: Diana DiMare, Suzanna Breit, Christine Odell, Natasha Wieschenberg, and Lisa Rose-Charlesworth.

Recent Accomplishments

• April 2008: YSC NNJ's co-president Liz Russo presented Re-Discovering Yourself: Improving Self-Esteem and Body Image During and After Breast Cancer Treatment at Saint Barnabas Health Care System's Breast Cancer Symposium.
• March 2008: YSC NNJ volunteers participated in the opening (March 21-22) of the 2008 International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City.
• March 2008: YSC held a You Are Not Alone breast cancer survivor night March 18 at Ethos Fitness Spa for Women in Midland Park, NJ
• January 2008: YSC NNJ held its first You Are Not Alone breast cancer survivor night on January 22 at Café Tulip in Ridgewood, NJ.
• January 2008: Provided scholarships for breast cancer survivors to attend the 8th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer in Jacksonville, FL.
• December 2007: Sponsored a member of the YSC NNJ's attendance at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an international scientific symposium for interaction and exchange among breast cancer scientists, clinicians and advocates.
• December 2007: Nominated YSC NNJ president Dinamarie Alcuri to the YSC Board of Directors and named four new members to the YSC NNJ executive council.
• November 2007: Sponsored the YSC NNJ leadership's attendance at the Affiliate Leadership Conference in Houston.
• October 2007: YSC NNJ became the beneficiary of the first Drive for Charity with Gotham Dream Cars™ – New York & Miami's premier exotic car rental company featuring "ultra-exotic" and luxury vehicles from the most exclusive manufacturers in the world. The event kicked off in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, and ended in Hershey, PA.
• October 2007: Provided public education and outreach at Pink Pony Day at Ralph Lauren, an educational fair at Gilda's Club, and a wellness fair at Realogy Corporation.
• May 2007: Raised nearly $70,000 with YSC NNJ's signature fundraising event, In Living Pink. Over 350 people enjoyed an evening filled with live music, auctions, entertainment and a delcious buffet dinner at The Brownstone in Paterson, NJ.
• May 2007: Supported the Public Forum portion of the New Jersey Annual Retreat on Cancer Research. The Retreat is one of the largest scientific programs run each year in New Jerssey and brings together over 500 scientists to present their work and interact. The dynamic public forum helped address important and emerging issues for patients, survivors and the public.
• April 2007: Raised awareness about breast cancer and the Young Survival Coalition at the NY Auto Show by distributing educational materials, including over 600 brochures in the first two days of the show.
• April 2007: Made it possible for YSC members to attend the National Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Advocacy Training Conference, April 28–30, 2007.
• Ongoing: Distributed over 100 Newly Diagnosed Resource Kits to eight northern NJ hospitals: Hackensack University Medical Center, Overlook, St. Barnabas, Morristown, St. Claires, Somerset Medical Center and Sloan Kettering.
• February 2007: Provided vital financial assistance to the YSC/LBCC Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer conference in Crystal City, VA, on February 23–26, 2007, the only nationwide breast cancer conference focused on the needs of young women.
• Ongoing: YSC NNJ members have been highlighted in the press for various activities on behalf of the YSC. Placements have appeared in NJ Monthly, 201 Magazine, NJ Life and The Record and The Herald News. Distributed over 2,000 Changing the Face of Breast Cancer informational brochures in stands to breast surgeons and oncologists in New Jersey.
• Ongoing: Held You Are Not Alone Survivor Events that for survivors and supporters in the following counties: Union (Beading, 3/27/07), Morris (Glassworks, 6/12/07), Hudson (Sewing, 11/26/07).