My sixteen year old sister Andi died from inflammatory breast cancer September 4, 2003. She was diagnosed in December of 2002 – already Stage IV. Andi’s treatment was immediate and intensive. We spent a great deal of time in Dr. Barth’s office. I accompanied her to chemotherapy and radiation treatments on many, many occasions. We always saw patients who were devastated by more than just the physical challenges and consequences of cancer. We saw old folks, young people, business men and women, mothers with babies in tow – people in every possible circumstance of life. For the majority there was always the pressing need for immediate arrangements i.e. how to be picked up, how to get medication delivered, how to have babysitting services covered, how to meet all of the necessary requirements of every day life. The majority of the people we saw did not have adequate financial means or resources to address these challenges. Andi and I always wondered “how do these people do it?”
My mother introduced me to Lil Spitzer. Getting to know Lil and listening to her talk about Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, I was impressed with their mission to provide immediate financial assistance and patient advocacy for victims of cancer. The Foundation served as a link between their temporary situation of distress and a long term solution. This was it! Beckstrand was reaching out to provide the aid that Andi and I saw was so needed with other patients every time she went for treatment.
I got together with two friends from high school, Veronica and Stephanie Muth, and we decided to develop an auxiliary group in support of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation. What makes us unique in comparison to other charitable organizations in Orange County is that we are just out of college and there is no similar group available to young women of our age and station in life. Our vision for this auxiliary is to connect our peer group and the community in an effort to enhance the quality of lives of patients and their families while going through what we observed with Andi.

We have a vision.
We are the beginning of Four Pearls – three here . . . . one in Heaven.

Lauren Collins
Founder

The mission of Four Pearls is to raise funds to support Beckstrand Cancer Foundation’s Pediatric Oncology Program, and to support the general mission of the Foundation to improve and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients and their families.

As an auxiliary of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation (BCF), Four Pearls supports and complements the programs of its parent organization. BCF is an Orange County-based, non-profit organization that provides a unique combination of financial assistance and patient advocacy to victims of cancer who are in the midst of treatment and struggling to cope with critical survival needs. By making crucial payments (such as rent/mortgage, health insurance, auto payments, medical co-pays), intervening with debtors, and advocating on the patients' behalf, Beckstrand ensures that patients can focus on treatment and recovery. Four Pearls raises money to support Beckstrand's individual patient assistance program and participates actively in its innovative program for children and teens with cancer.

As an auxiliary of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, Four Pearls supports and complements the programs of its parent organization. Beckstrand is an Orange County-based, non-profit organization that provides a unique combination of financial assistance and patient advocacy to victims of cancer who are in the midst of treatment and struggling to cope with critical survival needs. By making crucial payments (such as rent/mortgage, health insurance, auto payments, medical co-pays), intervening with debtors, and advocating on the patients’ behalf, Beckstrand ensures that patients can focus on treatment and recovery. Four Pearls raises money to support Beckstrand’s individual patient assistance program and participates actively in its innovative program for children and teens with cancer.

Front Row: (from left) Catherine Stephens, Ashley Smith, Laura Dubrish, Kathryn Meeker
Back Row: Jenny Levits, Veronica Muth, Nisan Tchekmedyian, Lauren Collins, Kati Robson, Stephanie Muth

Lauren Collins - Chair
Veronica Muth - President
Stephanie Muth - Vice President
Christy Duggan - Secretary
Catherine Stephens - Treasurer
Kati Robson - Senior Director
Nishan Tchekmedyian - Director of Medical Development
Laura Dubrish - Director of Events
Ashley Smith - Director of Membership
Jenny Levits - Director of Public Relations
Kathryn Meeker - Director of Marketing
Casey Reinhardt - Parlamentarian