Meet Beth Cady

Beth is a survivor and a volunteer at Kin. She serves on our advisory committee and will be spearheading a variety of fundraising events and activities for Kin.

1)     What attracted you to KIN?

I was attracted to the idea that professionals and individuals within our area were donating their time to provide those going through cancer treatments or who were in recovery with free services. I loved that concept of KIN being a place of solitude and respite for men and women battling cancer and/or recovering after treatment.

2)     What is your connection to cancer?

In 2013, my younger sister, Erin, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy.  Less than a year later, my husband was working in Malaysia for 10 months, and became concerned as he was choking frequently and developed a lump on the side of his neck. Upon returning home in Sept of 2014, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer that had spread into his lymph nodes. After surgery and radiation, he is cancer free.

At the start of Covid, I was scheduled to have a mammogram in March 2020 which was cancelled.  I finally rescheduled my appointment in August, and the doctor expressed concern and had me return in September for a biopsy.  On October 1st, I was diagnosed with DCIS, and was referred to Dr. Angotti in Doylestown.  She was absolutely amazing as she was so caring and spent a lot of time explaining things and answering questions. I opted not to have a mastectomy due to my concerns around covid and she felt they could remove it all as it had not spread, so I had a lumpectomy in early December of 2020.  I then had to have 20 sessions of radiation (5 days a week for 4 weeks) through Penn Medicine at Doylestown hospital from late February through March of 2021. Dr. Sonal Mayekar was wonderful!  I look back now and realize how numb I felt going through it all as my family doesn’t live nearby and with covid, my husband wasn’t able to attend any appointments or be in the hospital with me.

3)     Where are you from? What is your background?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa.  I earned my Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 1995, and eventually went back and got my Autism Certification from Penn State. I was the Assistant Director at The Wesley Institute for over 10 years, and helped develop a wraparound program that specialized in providing services at both home in school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. I really enjoyed helping with fundraising and hosting events to maintain funding for the program. In 2011, I left The Wesley Institute and worked part-time as a Behavioral Consultant so that I could spend more time with my family.  I worked with schools by providing in-services and autism trainings for teachers and paraprofessionals. In 2015, we relocated to Furlong, Pa for my husband’s job.

4)     Share a bit about your family.

My husband, Chris and I have been married for over 18 years.  I have a 23 year old daughter, Ashley, from a previous marriage, and she is currently in graduate school for counseling psychology at Holy Family University.  We have a 17 year old son, Aidan who is a Junior at CB East High School. We have a 7 yr old Frenchie named Stella who is in more photos than anyone in our family. Chris works for Glaxosmithkline as an Assistant Director of Finance for consumer services. I work at Barre 3 in Doylestown at the front desk, and it was my saving grace when I moved here and didn’t know a soul.  Working there has given me friendships and fun times, but most of all a tremendous amount of support from an amazing community of strong women. 

5) Why would someone battling cancer want to join KIN?

After going through treatment alone much of the time due to covid, I felt very isolated.  KIN provides a supportive, calming environment for those battling cancer and for up to a year following treatment. Not only is the person with cancer able to benefit from the therapies, integrative services, and support that KIN provides, but their family and caregivers are also able to be involved.  It’s a place of respite and relaxation to help decrease stress and anxiety, and to receive support in so many different ways.  In the first two weeks of KIN opening, I personally witnessed so many beautiful moments of complete strangers connecting as they felt safe and knew that they were going through similar experiences. The guests at KIN found that just being there took their mind off of treatment and outside worries for a while, allowing them to relax and focus on their own wellbeing.  There is a definite sense of “community” at KIN, and that community will grow and exist for years to come.

6)  How do you help KIN?

I met Keith Fenimore at a Pine2Pink fundraiser at DelVal University, when Barre3 owner, Angie Lee, introduced us.  I loved everything about what they were doing within the community and for breast cancer, especially since I had just undergone treatment. Keith mentioned the new center inspired by Corinne Sikora at the time and all that it would offer to ANY cancer patients in Bucks County as well as their families and caregivers.  I knew I needed to be a part of this!

I reached out to Keith on social media and offered to help in any way that I could, and after meeting with Keith, his wife Kristina, and Keith’s Mom, Marianne, and hearing about all that KIN would have to offer, it felt like an instant family. Better yet, I was going to be able to take the fitness classes, integrative services and therapies being offered as I was within a year of my cancer treatment.

I have been helping at the front desk by answering the phone, signing guests up for services through the MINDBODY app, talking with guests about all that KIN currently has to offer, and most of all, connecting with others who are going through their battle with cancer. I’ve been asked to join the KIN Advisory Committee to focus on events and fundraising efforts.  My goal is to help them get the word out about this amazing place and to create partnerships with other businesses in the community and the residents of Bucks County who can help support the non-profit.  I feel very blessed to be working with the most caring group of people at KIN, and look forward to meeting all of the guests who get to experience all that is offered.