Who Are The "Breast Buddies" - 12 Fantastic Ladies

The Story of the Brest Buddies

March 2021

In 1961 as a little girl, Anne Marie McCool-Hogan travelled across the Atlantic from New York to spend the summer with her aunt, the late Mary Gibbons Postmistress of Cong. That tradition continued every year and to this day Anne Marie has only missed one summer since those childhood visits began. Anne Marie has continued this tradition with her own family and now shares these experiences with her friends better known as the Brest Buddies.

In 2004 Anne Marie missed her annual visit to Cong because of her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. This is where the story of the Brest Buddies begins.

One evening in the Fall of 2004, Anne Marie gathered a few friends in the kitchen of her Pearl River, NY home. An idea was brewing in her head. Blown away by the kindness of people taking care of meals, her children, accompanying her to treatment or doing whatever needed to be done, she wanted to ‘pay it forward’. Her friends were happy to jump on board. And so, it was decided that evening that they would form a group and call themselves the ‘Brest Buddies’. The group grew to 12 in number, (11 Irish women and one Italian who they jokingly refer to as their token Sicilian). They decided to help others by waging their own war against breast cancer, a disease that has touched so many families everywhere. Every October, the Buddies, wearing their matching shirts carrying their logo not just talkin’ the talk’ actually ‘walk the walk’ in New York City when they participate in the 26-mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. At the end of the two-day walk, the Buddies cross the finish line linked arm in arm with happy tears flowing. A few blisters to show but lots of stories have been told along the way. The Buddies are grateful that they are all here to celebrate with each other.

Year after year, the Brest Buddies hold various fundraisers, like golf outings, cooking classes, theme dances, concerts, movies, plays, etc. or whatever opportunity presents itself where a little or a lot of money can be raised. The Brest Buddies are determined to emphasize the FUN in Fundraising. Though they have raised a substantial amount of money over 16 years, they never ask for money they simply organize fun events. Their support comes from local businesses, organizations and the community that never lets them down.

Every one of the Brest Buddies would tell you they have gained more than they have given. The strong bond of friendship that has developed among this group has carried them through good times and bad. Two other members have since fought cancer while leaning on their Brest Buddies for support, knowing that they would get it in spades. Unfortunately, in October 2020 the Breast Buddies lost one of the 12, Mary Lynch who was an inspiration to all who knew her – may she RIP.

When it comes to fun, these ladies never miss a celebration even if it happens to be taking place in another country. Every one of them and their husbands made it to Dingle to a member’s daughter’s wedding in 2018 and, in March 2019, most of them took a trip to Sicily to visit the home place of their one Italian member. It is in the kitchen of this Italian member that all the Buddies gather after their annual walk to end breast cancer every October. Rosemarie and her husband John run a successful Italian restaurant in the area, so the buddies know the food will be amazing. Here they reminisce about the year gone by and celebrate their successes. Here they drink and sing and dance and share photo after photo on their very active group text. Here they talk about the many changes that have happened within the group since 2004. They have grown older and wiser. Children (fondly known as buddettes), have grown up and a few grandchildren have already arrived. When the evening is coming to a close, one of the Buddies is bound to say, “isn’t it great that we got together all those years ago”. That’s when they raise their glasses and toast to friendship. And so the story continues…..