For Jolene Wilson and her mom Lynn Hansen of Hamburg, sorting through cans and bottles has become almost a full-time job.

What You Need To Know

  • Daughter Jolene Wilson and mother Lynn Hansen found out they both had breast cancer within months of each other
  • Both credit early detection for helping them through their fights
  • The duo has raised thousands of dollars to help others in a similar situation 
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Since June, they've returned about 65,000 of them, cashing out more than $3,000 worth of aluminum, plastic and glass.

"It's just a normal pace now," Lynn said. "You just keeping bagging them up and taking them in."

But they press on through bag after bag, pile after pile, donated from people around Western New York.

"It's tedious, but it's kind of fun in the same sense, I mean just because we know it's going to a good cause," Jolene said. 

You see, what they're doing together now is helping other people on a similar they've been.

Last November, at the age of 40, Jolene scheduled her first mammogram with Windsong Radiology's mobile mammography van. The mother of two kids, 9 and 11, found out she had breast cancer.

"That was the hardest part because when I first was told I had to kind of keep it a secret from them because I didn't have a plan," Jolene said through tears.

Seeing her daughter Jolene's diagnosis, Lynn decided to get a second opinion at Windsong about a lump in her breast that doctors elsewhere had noticed months earlier.

She was stunned to learn she had cancer too. Mother and daughter both were taking on the disease at the same time. 

"I prayed every day that it would take away from her and give it to me.  I didn't know I also had it too," Lynn said.

As it turns out, they share a genetic mutation. Jolene was lucky to catch it early in Stage 0, and a full mastectomy reconstructive surgery as a precaution. 

Lynn's cancer was a little further along in Stage 1. She's had a lumpectomy and radiation treatments.

But through it all they've felt fortunate and urge other women to have mammograms.

As they've faced cancer together, they're working together to help other women and raise awareness.

They've used that money from taking back all those cans to make care packages to go along with TLC tote bags filled with helpful information about cancer and treatments, given to patients through the Windsong Cares Foundation and the Breast Cancer Network of WNY.

"It's filled with just personal care items that we found were nice to have during the recovery process after surgeries or treatments," Jolene said. 

The duo also donated Amazon Echo speakers so patients could relax and listen to music during treatments. They're selling "More than Strong" t-shirts. On October 17, they'll be holding a raffle and chicken BBQ at the Hamburg Moose Lodge raise more money and awareness for the foundation. And they're still accepting donations of cans and bottles.

"It's a journey I never thought I would be on and I love it," Lynn said. "The people I've gotten a chance to talk to and meet; it's very rewarding."

You can contact Jolene Wilson at 716-997-9752 or Lynn Hansen at 716-796-1881, or email at morethanstrong1172020@gmail.com.