Cancer can often seem like a lonely disease where sufferers feel they’re dealing with the stresses and strains of the illness on their own.However five friends, some who have personally battled the disease, are joining forces to show cancer sufferers they’ve got somewhere to turn.Renee Carter, Ronda Lewis, Gina Anderson, Theresa Ebbin and Dexter Johnston have come together with one purpose in mind - to step up efforts to help those suffering with the various forms of the disease.Ms Carter is the founder of Melange, an event traditionally held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October. That event was recently awarded charity status and is now to broaden its reach to include at least two other large fundraising events a year. The group also plans to fundraise, with regular sales at the City Market at Bulls Head parking lot on Saturdays.Their hope is to raise as much money as possible to help cancer sufferers, without adequate insurance, pay for necessary medical procedures and prescriptions, which can cost upwards of $900 a month.Breast cancer survivor Ms Anderson said she had great insurance coverage and often “took for granted” how costly some medications could be. Some people might have to decide “whether to eat or buy medications to live”, she said.“Some people just go into it hoping for the best, but you do not want anyone to have to make that decision.”For the past few years Melange has raised between $10,000 and $12,000 annually for Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. Breast cancer survivors share their stories at the event of what it’s like to live beyond the diagnosis in a bid to raise awareness about the disease.Ms Anderson said it has helped to bring people “up close and personal with people who have experienced cancer”.“The take away you get from a lot of people is that ‘I didn’t realise you had been through this and I didn’t realise there was life after cancer’,” she said. “You get to have that conversation with them there and then and I find it really makes people think afterwards.”Such events allow sufferers to talk honestly about their illness and has helped to break down stigmas that existed less than ten years ago.It also arms people with “knowledge and strength” and gives men a better awareness so they can support the women in their lives, said Ms Anderson.The Melange event is typically known for supporting breast cancer, however, the new charity is broadening its scope to include all cancers.Mr Johnston, president of the Bermuda chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, aims “to help out with the masculine side of things”. He said he knew of several men impacted by prostate or other cancers and wanted to speak about the issue.In years past the event was primarily run by Ms Carter. This year, her cancer came back, spreading to her hip and lymph nodes, and Ms Anderson stepped in to assist.They were able to plan the event through a constant stream of BlackBerry messages while Ms Carter was abroad getting medical assistance.“When I got back it felt like there was nothing else to do,” she said.She said the new group provided her with the support she needed to move the charity forward.“This year I had a group of people where the intent was there and you can feel the connection, passion and it’s stable. I have a dependable group of people with me and it reflected in the outcome of the event this year.”n To lend your support, either by volunteering or corporate sponsorship, e-mail melange4[AT]yahoo.com.