Ginny Schardt and Jessica Cowling died of breast cancer within six
weeks of each other in 2002. Schardt was 44 and Cowling was 30.
But thanks to the friendship that grew between the two women _
who met in a cancer support group _ the lives of local women
battling breast cancer are made easier every day.
Despite their illness, Ginny and Jessica and their families founded
the Red Devils, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to
provide transportation, house-cleaning and meals to women
fighting breast cancer and the families who depend on them.
Jessica’s mother, Lark Schultze of Baltimore, explains that the
idea of providing services, rather than raising funds for research,
grew out of what the two women saw and heard at their regular
chemotherapy appointments.
“Jessica and Jenny never went by themselves. There was always
somebody with them, (but) we saw a lot of people with nobody,”
she says, recalling how they saw one patient bringing her
7-month-old along during treatments. They saw women struggling
with strollers, women who didn’t have rides to get to treatment,
women who were too sick to cook a meal for their children.
“We were trying to think how we could help,” says Schultze, who
knew her own daughter despaired of having a dirty house when she
was too ill to clean. “The idea was how can you make things a
little bit easier?”     
And so the Red Devils were born with a mission to provide services
that could make the journey through cancer treatment easier for
women in the Baltimore area. The name refers to Adriamycin, a
bright red chemotherapy drug nicknamed “the red devil,” which is
commonly given intravenously to breast cancer patients.
The nonprofit organization is run by a 10-member board, with its
budget coming from donations and the proceeds from an annual
walk, the Heart and Sole Stroll, held each July at Centennial Lake
in Columbia. Last year the walk raised $70,000.
The first order of business was making sure all women had a
reliable ride to and from treatment, so they contracted with TJ
Transportation, a licensed medical transportation company. Not
only has this made patients’ lives easier _ the rides actually save
lives, enabling women to seek treatment who otherwise might not.
Lillie Shockney, administrative director of the Johns Hopkins
Breast Center, says without this service, some women would never
be able to get to treatment. “We would have women who would not
receive care and they would die, to be frank. We would have women
who would never get to come here at all.” Even if patients have
money to call a cab, she says, the cab drivers might not come to
some inner city neighborhoods.
Jan Simpson, clinical coordinator and educator for Comprehensive
Breast Services at Franklin Square Hospital Center, explains that
patients can get medical assistance transportation, but “I’ve had
people sitting here for six hours, waiting for a ride.” That wait is
extremely grueling on a patient feeling the effects of
chemotherapy and radiation.
Baltimore County residents over 60 can call a cab for $6 a ride,
says Simpson, but often they don’t have the money. “It takes me six
to eight weeks to get a grant, but I’m notified that they’re starting
radiation next week.”
The Red Devils transportation services are free for any woman
with breast cancer. Nurses make the arrangements based on a
patient’s chemo schedule, and the woman is picked up within the
hour, Simpson notes.
The Red Devils also contracts with Merry Maids and Brian’s
Catering in Howard County and Moveable Feast to provide meals and
cleaning services.
In addition, the group seeks donated gift certificates for
restaurants, movie tickets and day spas, which can be given to
patients as pick-me-ups at difficult points in the chemotherapy
process. They also hope to get certificates to attractions such as
the zoo and aquarium to provide family outings for patients.
All of the services, including gift certificates, are arranged and
distributed by the nurses, who are in position to know who most
needs them, whether for economic reasons or for a pick-me-up.
There are no restrictions on income.
The first hospital to join the program was Howard County General;
now the Red Devils work with 12 hospitals.
“I was happy to work with them,” says Tina Beerman, clinical
program manager for the Center for Breast Care at Howard County
General Hospital, “but I told them it wouldn’t work if I had to
qualify people _ it wasn’t based on anything except the fact that
they had breast cancer and were in treatment.”
Regardless of whether a patient is indigent or financially
comfortable, Beerman says, the point is for the community to offer
them support.
“It’s all based on the idea that it’s a community outreach,” she
says. “Even if they don’t need it, they can enjoy a meal the day
after chemotherapy without worrying about cooking or feeding
their children. ”
Linda Brigham of Elkridge was diagnosed with breast cancer last
summer. During each cycle of chemotherapy, she was provided with
a meal.
“I’m a single mom and it was a great help,” she says. “I would have
help the first couple days, and I would schedule the meal for the
first day that I no longer had help.”
When she was nearing the end of her chemo, she was given a $25
restaurant gift certificate from the Red Devils to enjoy an evening
out.
“It was just nice knowing there were people out there who cared
like that,” she says.
For some families, that meal means the difference between eating
or not. Shockney recalls one patient who obtained food from a food
pantry every Friday, but chemo left her so weak she could not walk
there. Enter the Red Devils, whose transportation vouchers
provided the woman with a means to get her food.
Tricia Hayden, director of operations for the Red Devils, recalls
one recent request from a patient who was moving back home to
another state where family could help care for her children. But
she was too sick to pack and had no one to help.
“Four of us went to this woman’s house,” Hayden says. “She was so
grateful to have us there, but you could tell she was feeling
horrible. It was the first time we realized _ because we’re
somewhat removed _ what a toll it takes on the entire family.”
The Red Devils are somewhat removed because they feel they can
do more by contracting for professional services, rather than
finding volunteers to try to provide those services.
“We would not be able to do what we’re doing now,” Hayden says.
“Everyone on the board has full-time jobs.” Plus, there are legal
issues involved in transporting patients and entering their homes.
“This definitely makes more sense,” she says.
Suzanne Brice is the executive director of HopeWell Cancer
Support, a nonprofit organization that provides support groups and
services for cancer patients. She says the support provided by the
Red Devils and other groups goes beyond providing a meal or a
much-needed ride.
“I think what it means is you’re not alone,” says Brice.

To learn more, visit the Web site at www.the-red-devils.org.