Laurie organizes a motorcycle ride each year to raise money for women fighting breast cancer. This year she's donating the proceeds to the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition.
I'm Deborah Schachter from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and this is Giving Matters.
Each year about 900 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer in New Hampshire.
Costs associated with breast cancer treatment and loss of income can be devastating, especially to women who are self-employed or uninsured.
In 2004, Laurie's friends organized a motorcycle ride to raise money to help pay for her treatment. They rode from Nashua to North Conway.
"I could see the people stretch out in front of us. The bike that I was riding on, the driver, I leaned over to him and yelled in his ear, and I said, 'This is wonderful, this is great!'
"He turned around and said to me, 'This is for you... this is all for you.' I started to cry under my helmet.
"People would come up to me and tell me of either mothers, sisters, girlfriends, wives that were touched by breast cancer."
Laurie has organized Laurie's Ride every year since, to raise money for other women who need help.
This year, she'll donate the proceeds to the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition. The money will help fund a new project that will assist low-income and uninsured women who are battling breast cancer.
Nancy Ryan is the chair of the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition, and an 18-year survivor of breast cancer.
"We heard from providers that women were struggling with issues like gasoline, for their car to drive to their radiation treatments; help and support with child care, again while they go to their doctor's appointments; one woman really needed help with monthly rent. And we want to be there and help those women. Being diagnosed with breast cancer is difficult enough."
Laurie: "If we can help women with the financial burden, they can concentrate on taking care of themselves and fighting the cancer the best that they can, and I'm convinced that there will be a cure eventually."
Nancy Ryan: "Being here with Laurie today has brought me back to what is so important about our work, and that's the personal story of the individual women who are fighting breast cancer. Laurie, thank you for helping us."
Laurie: "Oh, you're entirely welcome."
The work of nonprofits touches each of us - the people we care about, and issues that matter.
You can support this nonprofit and many others. More information is available at the Giving Matters page at NHPR.org.
Giving Matters is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
