When registered nurse Nancy Shepard watched a close friend navigate breast cancer with two children under 5, she saw a gap few organizations filled. Her friend couldn’t lift her kids after surgery, couldn’t vacuum and still had to juggle work and treatment schedules.
“Cancer care had become largely outpatient,” Shepard recalls. “Patients went home to the same responsibilities, often without nearby family or support.”
From that insight, the Indiana Women in Need (IWIN) Foundation was born in 2000.
Twenty-five years later, IWIN’s mission remains clear: to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial burdens of Hoosiers in active breast cancer treatment, enabling them to concentrate on healing. What distinguishes IWIN is its personalized approach. Applicants complete a four-page form, primarily focusing on demographics to help IWIN understand where needs exist statewide, along with a brief verification by a physician or nurse navigator confirming active treatment.
Within two to four days, IWIN’s program manager calls each applicant to discuss what’s most urgent: Is it transportation to chemotherapy, help with housecleaning, childcare or eldercare, meal support or another barrier that stands between the patient and completing treatment? IWIN then bundles a service package tailored to that individual, making a significant impact on their recovery.
The need is significant. IWIN began in Central Indiana partnering with hospital systems, nurse navigators, social workers and oncology teams. Today, the organization assists 800 to 900 Hoosiers annually, with a strategic goal to serve more of the 5,000 or more Indiana residents expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. IWIN also serves men with breast cancer, a small but meaningful portion of its recipients.
They’ve even supported patients as young as 19 and as old as 92. As needs have evolved, so have services. For instance, IWIN added eldercare support alongside childcare to reflect the number of patients simultaneously caring for aging parents.
One constant, Shepard says, is the feedback IWIN hears most often: compassion. From the very first call, recipients say they feel seen and heard. Practical help often unlocks something bigger — the ability to stay compliant with treatment.
Transportation assistance, for example, can be the difference between completing a radiation protocol and skipping appointments because the cost of gas, parking or repeated trips is simply unaffordable.
IWIN’s support packages currently average around $400 in value per person, with plans to increase that amount as fundraising grows. Historically, the Pink Pajama Party has been the organization’s signature event. In its 25th year, IWIN also hosted the Illuminate Gala.
However, the real heroes are the community members who organize and participate in third-party events — everything from high school basketball nights and 5Ks to pig roasts. These events now account for roughly a quarter of IWIN’s annual revenue, showing the power of community in making a difference.
How to Help
- Spread the word: Tell friends, neighbors and local care teams that IWIN supports Hoosiers undergoing active breast cancer treatment, including residents of Fishers and communities statewide, through hospital partnerships.
- Donate: Financial gifts directly expand the number of people served and the depth of each support package.
- Follow and share: Stay connected on social media to boost awareness of services, stories and upcoming events.
- Attend or host a fundraiser: Rally your school, workplace or civic group to create a community event benefiting IWIN.
- Volunteer: Offer your time and talents to help IWIN deliver timely, personalized care.
From one friend’s struggle to a statewide lifeline, IWIN has kept its promise for 25 years to help patients navigate everyday hurdles, allowing them to focus on getting well.
For more information, visit iwinfoundation.org.
