A few years ago, Bainbridge resident Kim Ramirez was speaking to a group of people for a breast cancer awareness event. "I asked the room, 'How many of you have supported breast cancer research?' and every hand went up," she recalled. "Then, I asked, 'How many of you have supported breast cancer patients?' Again, every hand went up. Then, I asked the room, 'How many of you have supported breast cancer survivors?' and the hands went down."

Ramirez is determined to change that response. She founded Ta Ta Rebels Inc. after her own battle with breast cancer, and the organization celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.

Ramirez is an eight-year survivor of breast cancer. Four years after her diagnosis, she ended up in the emergency room, thinking she was having a heart attack. "My right arm was swollen, and something just wasn't right," she recalled. It took more than a year of testing before she received her diagnosis: lymphedema, a common side effect for people who have had lymph nodes removed during breast cancer treatment.

"I learned that most insurances do not cover costs related to lymphedema," Ramirez remarked, adding that treatment includes massage therapy and wearing an expensive compression sleeve up to 12 hours a day. "My friends and family did a fundraiser to help me offset some of the costs, and I started thinking, 'I'm not alone in this battle.'"

The nonprofit focuses solely on survivors, Ramirez said. "For organizations like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, you have to be in treatment to receive services," she explained. "The reality is survivorship is just as expensive as going through treatment."

The organization assists with co-pays, deductibles and medical equipment such as prostheses, mastectomy bras and compression sleeves. "We will consider coverage to help with any medically related bill for breast cancer survivors," Ramirez noted. Since the organization began, it has raised more than $20,000 and has helped more than four dozen women across the state.

The nonprofit participates in community events throughout the year and holds small fundraisers on a regular basis, but its main source of income is an annual fundraiser in October. This year's event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2, will feature a motorcycle ride, food, music and giveaways.

Ta Ta Rebels has a tagline that reads "Survivors Raise Hope," and that's what Ramirez strives to do every day. "We're working to help someone live a healthy life after cancer," she said. "We want people to know we're here for them. There is hope, and there is help."

For more information on Ta Ta Rebels, visit http://www.tatarebels.org.