Our Mission
The Pink Runway Project was founded in 2014 as an educational and charitable organization focused on raising awareness of breast cancer patients’ reconstructive and symmetry rights, as well as the long-term health and lifestyle impacts of choosing reconstruction over breast conservation.
When founder Dr. David Branch’s wife, Fran, was diagnosed with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in 2019, the Branch family experienced firsthand the barriers in accessing advanced, patient-centered cancer care in Northern Maine. Following her passing in 2021 after a courageous two-year battle, they recognized the need for real change. Together with Board Members Dr. Therese White and Dr. Brad Schaffer, Dr. Branch and his three children expanded the organization’s mission to support comprehensive, high-quality care for breast cancer patients across the Northern region of the state.
Maine has one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in the country, and patients in Northern Maine face numerous barriers, including provider shortages, limited access to specialists, diagnostic delays, long travel distances, and challenging winter driving conditions. Addressing these gaps requires a commitment to comprehensive care that goes beyond treatment to include education, support services, and access to cutting-edge options. At its core, this is an issue of equity and justice: every patient, regardless of where they live, deserves access to the highest standard of care.
The Pink Runway Project’s ultimate goal is to establish an accredited breast cancer center in Northern Maine, ensuring that patients and their families receive the quality care they need and deserve – close to home. Achieving this vision requires deep collaboration with local hospitals, providers, and service organizations, building on the resilience of Maine’s communities and creating a network of care that supports patients at every stage of their journey. By working in partnership, we can strengthen not only the health of individuals, but also the vitality and wellbeing of the region as a whole.