South African native to lead Marin County agency

Nonprofit breast cancer agency gets new headquarters — and a new executive director

Rose Barlow

Zero Breast Cancer, a nonprofit that focuses on identifying the role environmental factors play in breast cancer, has a new home. 

And a new leader.

The Marin County organization moved its California headquarters on June 1 to 30 N. San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael, CA 94903 from its previous headquarters on Redwood Highway. 

And Rose Barlow, a South African native, has taken the executive director reins from Janice Barlow (no relation), who retired after 15 years as chief exec.

Rose Barlow has lived in Marin 20 years. For the past 15 she's been working with nonprofits. 

She carries a BRCA1 breast cancer gene mutation, so she knows about — and works closely with her local doctors to minimize — the risks involved.

ZBC's 13th annual Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer has been scheduled for Sept. 26. Information on that fundraiser, or anything else pertaining to the agency, can be obtained by calling 1-415-507-1949.

Zero Breast Cancer, which collaborates with scientists on studies designed to recognize the causes and recurrence of the disease, has given my book, "Rollercoaster: How a man can survive his partner's breast cancer," a prominent push on its website.

Under the headline "Men caregivers need support, too," the article says that "when it comes to breast cancer, men — especially prime caregivers — are often a forgotten part of the equation."

And it notes that I, Woody Weingarten, wrote the book to remedy that situation.

It quotes me as saying that "Rollercoaster," which your favorite bookstore can order in hardcover or paperback, "will benefit male caregivers because 'even if they mistakenly believe they require zero help and can fix anything, they need support.'" 

Simultaneously, the quote continues, "a woman reader can learn what a man goes through while she's locked in a life-threatening battle."

The article also cites the fact that I've been running Marin Man to Man, a drop-in breast cancer support group for guys, for 20 years — since shortly after my wife, "who’s doing well indeed, was diagnosed."

ZBC was founded in 1995 as Marin Breast Cancer Watch. It became Zero Breast Cancer in 2006. 

I've been the only person so far to earn its healing award twice — once for being the caregiver for my wife, Nancy Fox, and later along with Marv Edelstein and Dan Goltz as longtime members of our weekly support group, Marin Man to Man.