An organization founded to help women of colour living with breast cancer will be launching in London in September.

The London chapter of The Olive Branch of Hope (TOBOH) is looking for individuals who are survivors, caregivers, oncologist, oncologist nurse and social workers to help in the operations of the organization.

TOBOH seeks to provide an environment in which women feel supported and empowered after a diagnosis of breast cancer, and to provide cultural resources, information and healing techniques to help families cope after the diagnosis and throughout the treatment period.

Discussion of breast cancer in some communities still remains taboo, making it difficult to speak openly about the disease thus, contributing to a sense of shame and isolation,” said a spokesperson.

“Encounters with health professionals and supportive care workers can also be influenced by discriminatory attitudes that, even when not blatant, can affect the comfort level of breast cancer patients of color. Lower socioeconomic status, a reality for many women of colour and immigrant women in Canada, also plays a role in a women's ability to access care and information.”

TOBOH is a non-profit community-based charitable organization that was established in 1999 by breast cancer survivors to provide support and services for women of colour and their families whose lives are affected by cancer; and to support research initiatives geared towards the eradication of breast cancer.

For more information, call (519) 850-5317, 1-877-251-0770 or visit www.theolivebranch.ca