Guilford Woman to be Honored At Florida Breast Cancer Event

GUILFORD, CT - A Guilford woman who splits her time between Connecticut and Florida is being honored for her work on behalf of breast cancer survivors.

Barbara Puffer has been named this year’s “Honorary Survivor for the Race” of the Southwest Florida Susan G. Komen event on this Saturday, March 3rd.

On her Facebook page, Puffer, a two-time breast cancer survivor, said she is “honored and humbled.”

Here’s what the Southwest Florida Komen organizers said about Puffer.

“We are so excited to announce this year's Honorary Survivor for the Race will be Barbara Puffer. Barbara has been with us since our inception and we are so proud to be able to highlight, honor and thank her for her years of dedication. Her team Puffer's Pals has raised over $76,000 between Connecticut and Florida!

“Breast Cancer Survivor Barbara Puffer, hailing from Ft. Myers Beach and Connecticut, is a two-time breast cancer survivor – 31 years and 6 years. She also has the BRCA gene mutation that is predictive of breast and ovarian cancer.

“Her team Puffer’s Pals has gathered every year since the first year of the SWFL race but Barbara’s Komen involvement dates way back.

“She served on the founding committee of the Komen Connecticut Race for the Cure in 1993 and in 1999 on the Connecticut Affiliate Founding Committee. She volunteered in all aspects of Race and Affiliate planning, sponsorship, fundraising, branding and grant-making.

“Barbara is quick to note that her corporate management position during her first breast cancer allowed her many privileges women didn’t and don’t have when faced with long periods of treatment and illness and she has always felt blessed for that. But in those days, the treatments were few and often survival was bleak. As a single woman, she endured a mastectomy and chemical sterilization from her chemo. She vowed to do something about it so others might find an easier path.

“After 35 Races over 27 years in Southwest Florida, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Dallas and NYC, Puffer's Pals alone has raised more than $76,000 in modest, grassroots, individual donations. She believes no donation is too small and no step too slow.

“A Connecticut native, she and her husband Tom have kept at it – rain or shine – teams large and small. In support of the Southwest Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, Puffer's Pals is at it again. Several have been with Puffer’s Pals since the beginning – now with several breast cancer survivors, survivors of other cancers and even a heart transplant recipient. And Puffer’s Pals will do it all over again in June in Connecticut.”

Photo of Barbara and Tom Puffer