Last summer when Cait Amirault’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, the 29-year-old began looking for ways to support her mother. She wasn’t very “domestic” – she wouldn’t be much help with the cooking and cleaning – but what Cait was good at was running and raising money.

After months of training and fundraising, Cait ran the Providence Marathon for her mother, Patricia Amirault, as well as the ladies of Women In Need (WIN). She was able to donate more than $10,000 to the program, which provides emergency financial assistance to patients at Kent Hospital’s Breast Health Center.

After Patricia’s diagnosis, her family and friends created a network of support, and as she began treatment Cait remained by her side. That is when the two came to realize how many people aren’t fortunate to have the same support and resources and discovered WIN.

WIN was established in 2014 and is completely funded through donations. Kim McDonough, RN BSN, and nurse manager at the Breast Health Center, explained that in just two years, “something that started out so small has really blossomed into something beautiful.”

It started with donations from fellow patients and their families who felt lucky to have the resources they did, with women helping women. Quickly, though, there was more community involvement as more people learned about the program.

WIN provides CVS and Stop & Shop gift cards and help with rent, car payments and electricity bills to local patients who are struggling financially throughout their treatment. They may have run out of TDI, had to leave their place of employment, not have health insurance, or have children to care for and couldn’t make ends meet while undergoing treatment.

“Most people don’t realize how much these women are struggling,” McDonough said. “It is such an honor to be a part of these women’s lives and to be able to help them in their moment of need.”

McDonough said often women who have benefited from the WIN program also give back once they have finished treatment, either financially or through advocacy.

Cait, who can’t say enough about the Breast Health Center, fell in love with the idea of the WIN program. To show support not only for her mother but the staff that took such great care of her, she decided to begin fundraising.

Cait reached out to McDonough in December and presented her mother with a card for Christmas laying out what she had intended to do.

“People don’t realize all the hidden costs of cancer and all the things women have to struggle with going through treatment. I was struggling with my way to show support and I saw a lot of people were looking for a similar outlet,” she said.

Cait set up a GoFundMe page, gathered some running friends, and set out to run the Providence Marathon on May 1 with a fundraising goal of $5,000.

“I wanted to run the hometown race for the hometown team,” she said.

As the donations began rolling in, Cait continued her training. Every time she went out for a run or to cross train, she knew that all her efforts were for who would be benefiting.

The fundraiser was receiving support from family, friends and even a few strangers, and the page was approaching its goal quickly. Cait believes so many people were invested in donating to WIN because the money goes directly to helping local women.

“Once you start the conversation you see that everyone is affected by breast cancer in some way. We all know how hard it is and want to do our part to help,” she said. “This money is going to local women, not some research facility states away. People can see the direct impact of their donations, see it as a $100 Stop & Shop gift card for a patient who can’t afford their groceries.”

Although more than the $5,000 goal was raised a week before the marathon, Cait said people truly rallied behind the cause in the days leading up to the run on May 1. Many of the friends and family members that had helped her train and raise money came out to cheer her on and show their support through the 26.2 miles.

Cait may not have had the best run of her life, but she said it was inspiring throughout to be surrounded by so many people with the same goal. A large group of loved ones, including her mother, had come together at the finish line to cheer her on for the last leg of the marathon.

In the end, a total of $10,400 was donated to the WIN program, more than double the initial goal.

“We raised more than I ever thought, but that’s a testament to what a meaningful and inspiring cause this is,” Cait said.

McDonough said costs for the WIN program can add up quickly, so such a sizeable donation will be of great benefit.

“It is so heartwarming and incredible to see people surrounding the women in our program,” she said.

Patricia, who in now in remission and received her last treatment in April, was “overwhelmed” not only by the efforts of her daughter, but also all the support shown at both the marathon and on the fundraising page.

“I have a greater appreciation for life. I’ve learned I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought I could be. I have been the recipient of so much love, compassion and kindness from my family, friends and the many people I have met during this journey,” she said.

Cait hopes the donation will help the WIN program.

“The people who work at the Breast Health Center have so much empathy for their patients. They look at the whole woman, not just the cancer, and try to make the best experience possible,” she said. “It has been great to get to know these women and develop relationships with them. It’s good to know all the money will go directly to helping them.”

For more information about the WIN program or how to donate, contact McDonough at 736-3737.