E16: Finding Community: Cancer Bridges' Comprehensive Support System

What makes Stephanie Ciranni with Cancer Bridges a good neighbor?  

Finding community during a cancer journey can make all the difference—not just for those diagnosed, but for everyone affected by this life-altering disease. Cancer Bridges stands as a beacon of support in Pittsburgh, offering a remarkable safety net for individuals and families navigating the complex emotional terrain that comes with cancer.

Stephanie Ciranni, Executive Director of Cancer Bridges, brings warmth and personal experience to her leadership role. Having started as a kitchen volunteer making meals for members, Stephanie's journey exemplifies how passion and purpose can align. Her transition from the for-profit sector to nonprofit leadership wasn't without challenges, but as she puts it, "Ten out of ten, I will say it was a big major life change for me, but it has been worth every single minute."

What sets Cancer Bridges apart is their inclusive approach to cancer support. With nearly 200 free monthly programs, they serve anyone impacted by cancer—patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, and those grieving losses. Their family and youth programs fill a crucial gap, helping children understand and process a loved one's diagnosis. This comprehensive support acknowledges that cancer affects entire family systems, not just individuals.

Perhaps most remarkable is that everything Cancer Bridges offers is completely free. In a healthcare landscape often defined by financial barriers, they've removed cost as an obstacle to receiving emotional and social support. With over 18,000 members served and approximately 100 new members joining monthly, their impact on the Pittsburgh community continues to grow.

The most common refrain they hear? "I wish I would have known about your services sooner." If you or someone you know has been affected by cancer, reach out to Cancer Bridges. Whether you need support or can help spread the word about their services, you'll be connecting with a community that understands the entirety of the cancer experience.

To learn more about Cancer Bridges go to: 

https://cancerbridges.org/

Cancer Bridges

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lila Carter.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a cancersupport community?
One might be closer than youthink.
Today, I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
stephanie Cerani, with CancerBridges.
Stephanie, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Good Lila, it's so nice to see you.
Thank you for having me today.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Thanks for being here .
We're excited to learn allabout you and your nonprofit.
Tell us about your organization.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Sure Well, Cancer Bridges is a nonprofit.
We're located right here inPittsburgh, in the Strip
District, and we provide freeprograms and services to anyone
impacted by cancer, whethersomeone who's been diagnosed, or
they are a friend of family,member, of caretaker, survivor
or someone who has lost someoneto a cancer diagnosis.
So we offer free social,emotional and health and

(01:03):
wellness programs of just under200 programs a month to the
community.
Wow, how impactful.
How did you get into?

Speaker 2 (01:11):
this business.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Oh, I have a kind of a fun story.
Actually, I became executivedirector of the organization
just a few years back, but I'veactually been involved with them
for about 10 years.
Years back, but I've actuallybeen involved with them for
about 10 years.
I started as a volunteer.
Actually, I was making meals inthe kitchen and working at the
front desk of Cancer Bridges,which was formerly our clubhouse
We've since merged andrebranded but I was just a

(01:37):
volunteer.
I was really passionate aboutthe mission and they were
looking for some help.
I saw it on a local flyer and Igot involved.
And through working with theteam here and my background and
experience, there was anopportunity a few years ago, in
early 2021, to join theorganization in the capacity of
marketing and communicationsmanager, as they were going

(01:59):
through a merger and as part ofthe MNO and business strategy,
and so I joined in that capacityand then over the last few
years, have grown into theposition that I'm in now, which
is executive director.
So I may have only been on thepayroll for a couple of years,
but deeply involved with theorganization for many.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
So yeah, it's amazing and inspiring, I'm sure, for
people who may just be startingout a nonprofit to realize like
there's growth and there'simpact in so many different
roles and also for you, a growthopportunity there.
That's awesome.
Um, yeah, so what are somemyths or misconceptions in your
industry?

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Well, I'm not sure.
So much about the industry, Ithink a lot of maybe the
misconception about some of thesupport maybe that's provided by
an organization like CancerBridges and likely some maybe
some other cancer focusedorganizations as well that are
non-medical.
We do everything that we havethese wonderful medical
facilities in Pittsburgh andthey, you know, work really hard

(03:02):
for those that have a diagnosisto ensure that they're helping
them on that journey.
And then there's a lot of otherstuff that comes along with
cancer, and so, of course,that's what we're here for and
that's the support that weprovide.
But I think what people aremost blown away by whenever
they're introduced to ourorganization or find out about
us or learn more about us, isthat we support so much more
than just the diagnosed.
So we'll often hear, oh, I wishI would have known about your

(03:23):
services when my mom was goingthrough her cancer or you know
something like that, and so I doalways love to spread the word
about the breadth of the supportthat we provide and just how
you know anybody who's beenimpacted it doesn't have to be
them with a diagnosis, but ifthey're caretaking for someone
or you know, maybe they're posttreatment, but there's still a

(03:43):
lot of emotional support that isneeded and potentially physical
support that's needed as well.
As those who have lost someone,you know we have a lot of grief
programming here for those, aswell as a family and youth
program.
So we offer, we really supportanyone, any age, any diagnosis,
any stage of cancer.
But we have a big family andyouth program, because children

(04:03):
are obviously deeply impacted ifthey're diagnosed.
But certainly if someone intheir you know close family or
that they have a closerelationship with has a
diagnosis, there's a lot of youknow confusion and a need for
understanding of what that'sgoing to look like.
So I don't know that it's amisconception that there's more
than the medical diagnosis whencancer is present.
But I think the breadth andopportunity that folks can

(04:27):
participate in a lot ofdifferent programs at Cancer
Bridges is something that Ialways like to highlight,
because we hear so often I wishI would have known.
I wish I would have known so.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Great.
So who are your targetcustomers, then, and how do you
attract them?

Speaker 3 (04:39):
Our members range really, like I mentioned, every
age, every stage, everydiagnosis, also any experience,
and so we have actually welcomedover 18,000 people to the
organization.
We usually, on average, welcomeabout a hundred new members
every month, and so the reallythe core of it is if you've been

(05:00):
impacted by cancer in some way.
That's our demographic here inPennsylvania.
So much of our programming isin person, but we also offer a
lot of virtual programming aswell, so, as long as you are a
resident of Pennsylvania, youcan access our services and
receive the support that youneed.
And then really, I think ourbiggest marketing opportunity is

(05:22):
word of mouth.
So many people find us throughthe good things that they hear
from others that haveparticipated in our programs.
Of course, we are a small staff, or a small but mighty staff of
12.
We do our own promotion, try toget ourselves out there at
networking events or speakingopportunities at different
organizations to make surepeople know that we're here.
And then we, of course, hostfundraisers to make sure that we

(05:44):
can maintain the wide varietyof free programs and services
that we offer, and so we'll dosome marketing related to that,
but opportunities like this arealways a wonderful way to spread
the word.

Speaker 2 (05:57):
Absolutely.
It sounds like you have quite afar-reaching impact there.
Have you ever thought aboutdoing your own podcast for the
organization?

Speaker 3 (06:05):
Boy, wouldn't that be fun.
I would love to do somethinglike that.
We get invited often todifferent podcasts and love to
talk about the work and thesupport that we do.
I think that would be maybe agreat opportunity to continue to
spread the word about what wedo.
I would just need, you know,maybe some fundraising money to
fall from the sky to get thatstarted and get a host that has
as nice of a voice as you do tohost it.

(06:27):
So but maybe on the horizon.
I never say no to a good idea,layla, so we'll see Awesome.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
So outside of work, Stephanie, what do you do for
fun?

Speaker 3 (06:57):
no-transcript and some travel whenever we can, but
yeah, probably nothing, unlikewhat many other people say.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
Oh well, there's never a dull moment in
Pittsburgh.
There's always some kind oftrivia night to go to or some
fun family event.
Absolutely yeah, let's switchgears here.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
Can you describe a hardship or a life challenge you
that my career prior to workingin the nonprofit sector?
Despite being involved inCancer Bridges and many other
nonprofits, I worked in thefor-profit space and really did
a lot of my nonprofit workindependently, outside of my

(07:52):
day-to-day job and really what Iwas focusing on in my career.
And I did get to a point whereI thought will I really be able
to do this type of work for therest of my life in that
for-profit sector and what I wasdoing, because I was so drawn
to the non-profit piece of myoutside of work hours work, and
so I would say it was definitelya bit of mental gymnastics when

(08:14):
the opportunity came to jointhis organization because I had
been so focused on my career asit was, and was I really
prepared for the jump into thenonprofit world, despite it
being such a passion of mine?
And, of course, everybodyaround me when I shared that.
They're like you are built forthis.
This is what you talk about,this is what you love, this is
your passion You've beeninvolved in, you know, all these

(08:36):
environmental and animalfocused organizations and
obviously, cancer bridges.
Like you got to do it.
What are you talking about andso you know it's.
It's that little bit ofself-doubt that that comes in
about really changing.
I changed my whole life.
I really went from, you know, asimilar type of work from that
marketing, communications, m&owork and business strategy work

(08:57):
but into the nonprofit world andit's just can't highly
recommend.
Ten out of ten I will say itwas a.
It was a big major life changefor me, but it has been worth
every single minute since I'vebeen with this organization.
So I would say that's probablywhat comes to mind first was
that, that change and findingthat confidence in myself to do
it.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
That was beautifully put, Stephanie.
Please tell our listeners onething that they should remember
about Cancer Bridges.

Speaker 3 (09:26):
Everything that Cancer Bridges offers is free,
so we have 200 programs andservices a month available.
I listed all those differentjourneys that one might be on
when it comes to cancer, and soplease take the opportunity.
Unfortunately, cancer isextremely prevalent, not just in
this region but in Pennsylvania, and we would love to be able

(09:47):
to support anybody that needsour help.
And there's no barriers when itcomes to cost is 100 percent
free.
You can do one program.
You could do 200 programs amonth.
There's no limit to membership,and so we would just love for
people to know about us orthey're not in need of our
services.
Just love for people to knowabout us or, if they're not in
need of our services, you know,help spread the word so that
those that might benefit fromthe free workshops and offerings

(10:08):
that we have that they do findus and get that help that they
need.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Excellent.
And how can our listeners learnmore about Cancer Bridges?

Speaker 3 (10:16):
Sure, our website is cancerbridgesorg, so
wwwcancerbridgesorg, or you'rewelcome to call us at
412-338-1919.
Either way, we'd be happy tohelp, um you know, get you
connected and become a member ofthe organization so you can
participate well, stephanie, Ireally appreciate you being on

(10:37):
the show.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
We wish you and the non-profit the best moving
forward.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
Thank you, leila thank you for listening to the
good neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPittsburghcom.
That's GNP Pittsburghcom, orcall 412-561-9956.