Where Support Makes Hope & Healing Possible

When someone you know is facing cancer, CAT gives you a clear way to offer meaningful support.

Connect & Thrive (CAT)


"The will to live changes our chemistry, and CAT's words 'connect and thrive' say it all."

~Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, Author of Love, Medicine & Miracles and The Art of Healing

CAT is dedicated to supporting cancer previvors, patients, thrivers, and caregivers by providing access to evidence-based healing modalities and healthy living products so they can move forward with confidence and hope.

CAT activates the generosity of friends and family through E-Gift Cards and crowdfunding campaigns affectionately known as KittyFunds™. These options provide a meaningful way for individuals to engage with CAT's Marketplace, which offers services and products not typically covered by insurance.

All Marketplace partners are vetted for alignment with CAT’s patient-first values.

At its core, CAT's mission is simple yet powerful — to help women CONNECT with trusted partners and supportive resources so they can THRIVE!

  • “As a physician and cancer survivor, I’m grateful for the resources CAT offers to my patients... like a cozy blanket, wrapped with hope and healing.”

    ~Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD Founder, myMDadvocate
  • “Having experienced cancer myself, I understand how much the little things can matter during treatment and recovery. From post-surgical garments to supportive therapies, having access to products and services that provide comfort, confidence, and a sense of control can make a meaningful difference. CAT helps patients discover these options, and I’m proud that Everviolet is part of that experience.”

    ~Keira Kotler Founder, Everviolet
  • “Having experienced cancer firsthand, I know how important it is to have access to resources that support the whole person, beyond medical treatment. CAT brings together a wonderful variety of options in one place, empowering patients to discover what works best for their individual journeys.”

    ~Carly Fauth Founder, FunFitCarly
  • “Christine truly understands the healing power of another's presence ... AND "presents" from loved ones who say with words and gifts, "I am with you. You are not alone." Through CAT, Christine carefully selects only the best therapies and products and supportive experiences and resources for your loved ones ... just as you would want her to do. I have been through cancer. It is tough. In her beautiful way, Christine makes it just a bit sweeter.”

    ~Nancy Novack, Ph.D. Founder, Nancy’s List
  • “Connect & Thrive (CAT) brings together valuable nonmedical resources, therapies, and services in one easy-to-navigate place, recognizing that every cancer journey is unique. We have referred patients to CAT and appreciate its commitment to providing meaningful choices for patients. Through its Investing In Impact program, CAT also supports nonprofits like ours, extending its positive impact throughout the cancer community.”

    ~Susan Patterson Executive Director, Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer
  • “Through our partnership on Does Sound Heal, I’ve seen Christine and Connect & Thrive’s commitment to bringing conversations about supportive care into cancer communities. I deeply appreciate CAT’s respect for medical science alongside its recognition that patients and care partners need support for their emotional wellbeing too. By connecting people with complementary therapies, education and resources, CAT helps make these conversations more accessible alongside conventional medical care. I’m grateful to be working together to create opportunities for people to learn, ask questions and feel supported in the choices they make.”

    ~Tenille Bentley Co-creator and Executive Producer, Does Sound Heal
  • “Supporting people affected by cancer means recognizing that their needs extend far beyond medical appointments and treatments. CAT fills an important gap by connecting patients with evidence-based integrative healing modalities, products, and services that support quality of life. Together, organizations like SurvivingBreastCancer.org and CAT help make the cancer journey less overwhelming and more empowering.”

    ~Laura Carfang Founder, SurvivingBreastCancer.org
  • “The Radical Remission Project’s research into the 10 Healing Factors highlights the importance of empowering people to take an active role in their health and healing. Through our partnership with CAT, we share a commitment to helping people affected by cancer discover and access supportive therapies, services, and resources that complement their individual healing journeys.”

    ~Kelly A. Turner, Ph.D. Founder, Radical Remission Project
  • “I’ve seen firsthand what happens when someone facing cancer feels truly supported. When the people who love her can finally do something meaningful, and she can choose care that supports her alongside her medical treatment, something shifts. Her shoulders drop. She sleeps a little better. She starts asking what’s possible instead of bracing for what’s next. Connect & Thrive makes that kind of support real. It turns the question every friend and family member asks, ‘How can I help?’, into an answer that reaches her where she needs it most. In my work with clients, I’ve learned that feeling supported is not a small thing. Very often, it’s where hope begins.”

    ~Avinoam Lerner The Science of Hope
  • “Connect & Thrive brings together fundraising, gifting, and meaningful support in a way I haven’t seen anywhere else. By offering carefully curated products and services, the platform makes it easy for friends and family to provide practical, thoughtful support to someone navigating cancer. It’s a wonderfully innovative approach that transforms the desire to help into meaningful action.”

    ~Laura Boulay Founder, Letters from Laura
  • “I believe that patients deserve access to therapies and services supported by science, regardless of their financial circumstances. CAT makes that possible through KittyFunds™ and CAT E-Gift Cards. Knowing that 100% of my donations go directly to helping CAT’s patients, with complete transparency about how the funds are used, gives me confidence that my contributions have made a real difference.”

    ~Tommi Jaakkola, Ph.D. Donor

How CAT Works

Empower

Empower a woman to take control of her healing journey through her personal KittyFund™, which friends and family can contribute to, while CAT E-Gift Cards offer a simple option for individual giving.

100% of every donation goes directly to the recipient for exclusive use in CAT's Marketplace.

It takes just a few minutes to start a KittyFund™ and even less time to send a CAT E-Gift Card.



Engage

Connect with a curated network of partners in CAT’s Marketplace. Our partners offer trusted, evidence-based services and healthy living products designed to nourish the mind, body, and spirit alongside conventional care, while also supporting prevention, treatment navigation, and risk reduction.

Examples of offerings include Coaching, Energy Medicine, Exercise and Movement, Intimacy and Sexual Health, Massage, Meditation and Mindfulness, and Nutrition and Diet.

Founder's Message

In the summer of 2004, my mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. I was her healthcare advocate / caregiver for the next 17 years. She was not only my mother but also my best friend. Then, in the winter of 2016, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and chose to be treated by conventional medicine. At the end of my treatment, I was deemed to be in remission and, five years later, cured. However, the underlying conditions that allowed my cancer to develop and proliferate had not been identified or addressed.

Since I did not have a genetic predisposition or family history of breast cancer, my diagnosis was deemed to be due to "environmental factors." Having worked as an environmental engineer for more than 25 years at that time, the irony was not lost on me. So, I embarked on a mission to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and holistic health in order to begin my healing journey which, to this day, is ongoing.

I started to spend a great deal of time in nature - in the forest and by the sea - with my beloved dog by my side. I was also inspired to explore healing modalities like acupuncture, aromatherapy, detoxification, massage, nutrition and diet, Reiki, and yoga. I was blessed to begin the work toward bringing my mind, body, and spirit into alignment. I was also determined to help others do the same.

Connect & Thrive (CAT), is the result of my determination.

My mother passed away in August 2021. Throughout her journey, and mine, I thought about how I could make a positive difference in the lives of others. True healing takes time, energy, and resources. It is not a destination but, rather, a lifelong journey. It is my heartfelt hope that CAT becomes the connection point for previvors, patients, thrivers, and caregivers to begin their own healing journeys.

"In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong with hope."

~O. Carl Simonton

CAT's Spirit Guide

CAT’s spirit guide, “Hope” (created by artist Hannah Bullen-Ryner), is a majestic cheetah, symbolizing speed, resilience, and achievement. As a member of the cat family, she embodies the grace, flexibility, and strength needed to navigate life’s challenges.

Cheetahs are known for their determination and ability to focus, and Hope carries these traits with a compassionate heart. She represents an extraordinary capacity for empathy, offering precise insight into how to support those experiencing pain, hurt, and suffering. Hope inspires us to awaken our hidden potential and empowers us to strive for our highest possibilities. As the guiding spirit of CAT, she stands as a beacon of courage, reminding you that healing is a journey of strength and transformation.

Hope is here to offer you confidence, to uplift you, and to reassure you that you are never alone. With her as our symbol, CAT embraces you with warmth, strength, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

Investing In Impact

CAT is a Public Benefit Corporation that provides support to mission-aligned organizations driving meaningful change in prevention, early detection, equity and empowerment, and healthcare / patient advocacy. Each shares our commitment to advancing health and healing for those affected by cancer.

Together, we amplify our reach and deepen our collective impact.