After her own cancer diagnosis, West Hartford’s Tracy Tighe Johnston gathered more than 40 people to walk around the Avon cancer center for her birthday – showing patients they’re not alone during a Tighed Together event focused on healing, support and joy.

By Mia Jaworski

On Friday morning, West Hartford resident Tracy Tighe Johnston returned to Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute in Avon – where she once underwent treatment for Stage 3B breast cancer – to celebrate her 55th birthday.

This time, she came with 55 gift bags, volunteers, and a full lineup of activities designed to uplift patients, nurses, and staff. The event was organized by Tighed Together, the nonprofit she founded in 2020.

Johnston was diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic with what she initially believed to be Stage 1 breast cancer. It was later confirmed as Stage 3B, and she learned she carried the BRCA2 gene. In 2020, she marked her 50th birthday with a symbolic walk around the cancer center’s parking lot – her first step in reclaiming strength amid treatment.

“I found during my treatments here, walking the parking lot was the hardest part,” Johnston said.

This year’s event expanded that walk into a celebration of life and resilience. The building was surrounded by handmade hearts with inspirational messages.

Participants created chalk art and painted rocks, enjoyed a water-balloon toss, watched a live muralist from inside and outside treatment rooms, and marched in solidarity around the treatment building. A raffle prize from REI added an extra layer of excitement.

“We are walking around to let someone know we are thinking about them,” Johnston said.

Patients stopped by the Tighed Together table both before and after treatments.

Tighed Together, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in West Hartford, provides restorative and recreational outings for families navigating trauma. It now serves communities across the tri-state area and offers tailored group support to encourage connection and healing.

The nonprofit offered tank tops embellished with the heart logo, support cards, gift bags, and information for attendees on the stages of change and trauma.

“Tracy is a force to be reckoned with,” said Randi Leopold of West Hartford.

The Avon branch of Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute, one of three regional centers in addition to Manchester and Willimantic, was built 12 years ago and renovated five years ago. The facility includes more than a dozen infusion chairs, eight exam rooms, and a new pharmacy. It treats around 30 to 32 infusion patients daily and sees 15 to 20 radiation patients each day.

“We want people to get care in their backyards,” said Dr. Peter Yu, medical oncologist. “We try not to disrupt their lives more than the cycle already does.”

The institute promotes an integrative, holistic approach to care, and Johnston’s event reinforced that mission with compassion and creativity.

“Patients may spend several hours here,” said a nurse at the center. “The nursing team works together closely. It’s a patient-focused place. The vibe is lovely.”

Tighed Together’s mission extends far beyond symbolic walks. The nonprofit organizes restorative and recreational experiences designed to reconnect families coping with trauma.

Events have included a ranch getaway at Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in Highland, New York; an aerial adventure at a local adventure park; UTV tours; baseball clinics; art therapy sessions; cooking lessons; farm visits; golf outings; drum circles; and even family tattoo sessions. Physical wellness is also prioritized through tailored group fitness programs designed for all ages and abilities.

Tighed Together offers its comprehensive family experiences free of charge. All outings – ranging in cost from approximately $500 to $2,000 to cover venue fees, facilitators and materials – are funded entirely through donations and gifts.

Families interested in participating start by submitting an inquiry on the nonprofit’s website. Those looking to support can gift outings to families in need via the “Donors” page on Tighed Together’s website.

Johnston, whose organization grew out of her own journey, keeps her message simple but powerful: “If you laugh, you heal faster.”

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