Because Cancer is Hard Enough: Celebrating 30 Years of Family Reach & a Bold Vision for the Future

Thirty years ago, Family Reach was founded on a simple belief: no family should have to face cancer alone.

Since 1996, we have provided support to families as they navigate the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. People think of the physical and emotional toll, but we have consistently shown up for the overlooked financial hardships that often accompany treatment. Today, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are building on that legacy with a renewed commitment to the families we serve and a bold vision for the future.

This year, Family Reach is proud to launch our 30th anniversary campaign focused on the financial side effects of cancer, sharing a real, tangible look at the challenges faced by those we serve. We’re bringing greater visibility to one of the most urgent yet under recognized realities of cancer: its financial side effects. 

Cancer Has Financial Side Effects, Too

When most people think about the side effects of cancer, they think about nausea, fatigue, hair loss, or pain. But, there is another side effect that affects families of cancer patients —financial hardship.

Cancer can disrupt every aspect of a family’s financial stability. From transportation to treatment and housing costs to groceries, utilities, childcare, and lost income, families often face impossible choices while trying to prioritize their health.

At Family Reach, we believe these financial side effects deserve the same attention, support, and urgency as any other part of cancer care. That’s why our new campaign seeks to elevate awareness of an issue that impacts families across the country every day and inspire action to ensure no family has to choose between treatment and basic necessities. What we see everyday can be heartbreaking, but we remain grounded in the hope that we can and will aid or fix these challenges for so many families.

Because Cancer Is Hard Enough: A Goal as Bold as the Need

Every day, Family Reach provides financial assistance, education, resource navigation, and support that helps families stay housed, keep food on the table, maintain transportation to treatment, and preserve stability during one of the most difficult times in their lives. As Family Reach celebrates 30 years of impact, we are setting our most ambitious goal yet: raising $30 million to provide 300,000 services to cancer patients and their families, ensuring more families can focus on healing instead of financial hardship.

This investment will allow us to:

• Expand financial support for families facing cancer
• Increase access to financial education and navigation services
• Strengthen collaboration with healthcare providers and community organizations
• Advance research and awareness around the financial side effects of cancer
• Reach more families earlier in their cancer journey

Together, these efforts will help ensure that more families have access to the support they need when they need it most.

Join Us in Shaping the Next 30 Years

The story of Family Reach has always been one of community—families helping families, supporters stepping forward, and partners coming together to address an unmet need in cancer care.

Now, we invite you to be part of the next chapter.

Whether you’ve supported Family Reach for years or are just learning about our work, your involvement can help create meaningful change for families facing cancer today and for generations to come. Together, we can ensure that financial hardship does not become another side effect of cancer.

Support the Campaign

Join us in our goal of raising $30 million to provide 300,000 services for families facing cancer. Visit Family Reach’s 30th Anniversary Campaign page to learn more, make a gift, or share the campaign with your network.

Because cancer is hard enough.