VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Local nonprofit, Free Range Sisters Foundation, is doing all it can to make those diagnosed with breast cancer feel comfortable and loved year-round.

This all started in 2017 when sisters Pattie and Jackie were diagnosed with breast cancer in the same year. The sisters are affectionately known as Frick & Frack.

So, when Free Range Sisters founder Aimee Kram learned of the two sisters’ fight, she created the Frick & Frack 5k.

“It was a great little event, and we donated all the money to them, helping them with their medical bills,” Kram said. “Then, it kind of just bloomed from there. So, the following year we decided to make it a legit nonprofit, and that’s where Free Range Sisters came in.”

Kram said that in the months after Pattie and Jackie’s diagnoses, Pattie’s daughter, Lyndsay, was also diagnosed with her second round of breast cancer. The family adopted the slogan, “Her fight is our fight.”

Kram is happy to report Pattie, Jackie and Lyndsay are all cancer free today, but their fight made her want to do more for the community, she said.

“We were like, ‘Do we want to just start helping people outside of our little world of friends and family?'” Kram said. “And we have. We have affiliation now with two of the major breast cancer centers.”

On their website, individuals can sign up and provide input on what they need. The organization now works to spread awareness to help women battling these types of cancer. The Frick & Frack 5k is now the organization’s main fundraiser.

“All the money stays in the foundation,” Kram said. “We are volunteers, and we do this just because it’s in our heart to do it. So, we make comfort baskets for patients, whether they’re going through radiation or chemotherapy or having surgery.”

The organization also has three recliners they bring to women’s homes post or pre-surgery to help with recovery. Medical assistance and rides to treatments are yet another way the organization helps women.

One of Free Range Sisters’ comfort baskets showed up on the doorstep of Traci Cole when she battled breast cancer. Now cancer free, she volunteers with Free Range Sisters counseling the newly diagnosed, and helping to fill the baskets. She said the organization volunteers speak with the women who are fighting breast cancer to understand the type of journey they’re going through.

“Some people aren’t having surgery. Some people are having chemo and radiation and surgery. So, we customize it to them,” Cole said.

This customization includes lotion for radiation patients, clothing and blankets, coloring books, bras with front zippers, give cares, etc.

“So, we’re just here just to try to give them what they need so that they can fight and leave the rest to us to support them,” said Cole.

Cole said they help women throughout Hampton Roads. It doesn’t matter their location.

If you would like to run, or walk, in the Frick & Frack 5k, on Saturday, Oct. 26, you can register here.

It is at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach. The race begins at 8 a.m. It is not a timed event. The race is for fun! There is also a kid’s dash! There will be silent auction items from local businesses, Mean Myrna’s food truck, donuts, coffee and more. All proceeds stay in the local community.

“It’s not this big, huge, overwhelming event. It’s for family and kids are running around and you see how grateful everyone is and it’s just nice and it’s a good feeling,” said Cole.

Cole said she finds the event uplifting.

“I had a hard time the first, because I has just started my journey, but going back every year, I have some friends who have mothers who are fighting and now they’re coming,” Cole said. “I just feel more empowered now that I can go out and help the other women. I just think it’s so important that the other women know that that we’re there.”