Success Stories!

Board Members

Marylou Buchta

Fundraiser Coordinator

Mary Lou Buchta, has been an active member of Bustin' out of Boise for several years. She is active in their GAP program and manages their main fundraiser, as well as being a member of the board. She is passionate about the support provided to women as they travel through their journey with Cancer.

She is retired, a mom and a grandma, loves to travel, read, and take photographs.

Kim Smith

I joined Bustin' Out of Boise in 2009.  I have walked in every walk that Bustin' Out of Boise has participated in to raise money for breast cancer since joining. Avon Walk and a couple of Susan B. Komen walks.  I reside in Star, Idaho and work at St. Lukes.

My aunt passed away in her 50's from breast cancer, and I wanted to give back.

In my free time, I enjoy walking, spending time with my 3 fur babies, spending time with my family and friends.  My passion is volunteering with my Boob sisters and enjoy spending time with them.

Tami Malone

President/Co-Founder

Hi! I am Tami Malone, vice president and cofounder of Bustin Out Of Boise.  I reside in Star, Idaho and work for Alaska Airlines.  I enjoy traveling with my husband to visit family throughout Arizona and Colorado.  I have witnessed through friends and family the many difficulties that come with a cancer diagnosis. I am so grateful to be a part of Bustin' Out Of Boise and the very tangible way in which we help meet their needs during their cancer treatment.

Tami Malone

Sherry Quay

Treasurer

Sherry moved to the Boise area, 8 years ago from California. Looking for a better way of life and found it here in Idaho.

Her granddaughter was a volunteer for Bustin Out of Boise, and asked her if she would like to join with her in this great Non-profit. Sherry was very interested after hearing about the wonderful way this organization gives back to women in the community, who are going thru cancer.

Sherry is a grandmother of four and great grandmother of three by birth and 2 by marriage. Family is the most important thing to her and she is lucky enough to have all of her family around her.

Sherry, has been motivated to help, by family and friends who have been touched by cancer, including her father and her very best friend of 52 years.

Tammy McMillen

Secretary

I joined Bustin' Out of Boise about 8 years ago because my son lost his 7 year battle to cancer when he was 23, and always wanted to give back and help other kids going through cancer.  My son and also my grandson were granted wishes from Make a Wish Foundation and I have volunteered for Make a Wish events in San Diego. I wanted to give back to our community here in Idaho and had friends in Bustin' Out of Boise and loved what they were doing to help women in our community.

I feel very blessed to be on the Board! There are so many women who need our help!  Going through cancer myself i really understand the need and have so much compassion. It gives me such a purpose and fills my heart with joy to be able help!

I'm a caregiver for elderly.  I'm married and we live with our Shitzu and cat.  Between us we have 7 grand children and 3 children. My greatest pleasure is spending time with my family and friends, playing bunko, going to church and volunteering with our amazing group of women who are now my Boob sisters.

Melanie Uyeda

Social Media

The reason I volunteer with Bustin’ Out of Boise is because of two people that passed away from cancer when I was 16 years old. One was my dad, the other was my mentor, and one of the reasons I am who I am today. She was my kindergarten teacher, but to me, she was much more than that. If I needed anything she was there to help. Someone to talk too, someone to teach me when I needed help in school, and someone to tell me when I was doing wrong. She was the one who always encouraged me to do my best. She taught me to love full heartedly, give to those who need it, show compassion, and to always be the best version of me. I can only image how much of what we do at Bustin’ Out of Boise would have been a huge help to her and her family. I still miss her every day, every year that passes, but I know that she would love what we are doing to help others.

Juanita Russell

Correspondence

Juanita is a long time resident of Boise, and had been a volunteer with Bustin Out Of Boise for many years before joining the Board of Directors.
She has 3 adult children, enjoys traveling and spending time with her partner, Rick, and her family and friends.

After meeting a young man at an Avon Walk for Breast Cancer who was wearing a T-shirt, “39.3miles is a short distance to walk in honor of the woman who taught me how”, and learning he had lost his mother to cancer when he was just a teen, Juanita’s commitment was solidified in helping local Treasure Valley women “fill the gap”.

Tori Auth and T

Community Outreach

I started volunteering for Bustin out of Boise in 2021, toward the end of my own battle with cancer. I was diagnosed as a solo parent of a 4 1/2 year old. Going out of state back and forth for multiple surgeries and treatements took a toll on me. Unable to work for a long period of time, which cut off paychecks and having no family in Boise limited my support & made recovery stressful. I had a friend come wash my sheets one day after realizing I had not done it in a while as I had restrictions that didn't allow for it. This small gesture made me 'google' as I KNEW there had to be an organization out there that could help me with these small things like cleaning, groceries, child care, etc. In doing so, I found Bustin out of Boise. Not wanting other women to have to go through such a hard recovery like I did made me want to start volunteering right away. I feel honored and blessed to be able to help others as I know the struggle is real and the gap Bustin out Boise fills is priceless. I continue to volunteer and now assist with Community Outreach and am on the board.


That little girl is now 7 years old and a big part of our Bustin out of Boise family. She volunteers with me to make a difference as she knows helping women also makes the kiddos be able to be kids.

Karen Thompson

Retired President/Co-Founder

I grew up in Northwestern Montana and am a long time resident of Boise, ID. I am one of the co-founders of Bustin' Out Of Boise. Forming a non profit was not something I had ever thought I would do, but when I met my co-founder Tami, and I signed up to walk my first Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure with her it kind of evolved from there.