Empowering: Tri Gals and Cancer Support Community

At first glance, the only similarity between the Cancer Support Community and the Jersey Shore Tri Gals is that they are both non-profit organizations.

But the more the group of women that had gathered on Wednesday at theEatontown offices of the Cancer Support Community began to talk, the more similar the missions of both groups began to seem.

The three founders of the Tri Gals had come to present a check for $2,000 to the wellness center on Wednesday that they had raised over the last training season. Well, actually Pam Mancuso of Fair Haven came while the two others — Gayle Stamer of Little Silver and Bonnie Cooper of — were already there teaching their monthly "Shake Your Soul" class.

The mission of the Cancer Support Community, located in Victoria Commons off Hope Road, is to help people affected by cancer enhance their health and well-being through participation in professional programs of emotional support, education, and hope, according to their Web site. And it's all done free-of-charge.

The Tri Gals, give women the tools they need to successfully finish a sprint triathlon -- guarded ocean swims, bike rides, runs and pertinent nutrition and bike safety workshops -- for a small membership fee.

But it all comes down to empowering their members — whether it's to finish a race or beat cancer.

The Tri Gals were early supporters of the organization, which launched in 2007 as the Wellness Community, and members picked it as the premiere recipient of their money raised during their training season. That $1,000 check got the Tri Gals "sustaining member" designation and a nice plaque on the wall of the center.

The Tri Gals pick their donation recipient in the late fall of each year and the approximately 100 members once again selected the Cancer Support Community in 2011. They came on Jan. 4 to present that check to the executive director of the support community, Ilene Winters.

Mancuso said that every year, there are about four or five cancer survivors participating, which she said can be very inspiring. "A few years ago they were battling cancer, and now they're competing in a triathlon."