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Y-Me Abruptly Closes, Files For Bankruptcy

CHICAGO (CBS) - A local organization helping Chicago-area women cope with breast cancer abruptly shuts its doors -- and is filing for bankruptcy.

A call to the Y-Me breast cancer hotline is only answered by a busy signal. Its website, non existent.

Volunteers, supporters and staff of the breast cancer support non-profit heard the news yesterday, that Y-Me would be closing its doors.

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"There was a lot of crying, there was a lot of being upset, I know there was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger," explained Margaret Harte, a three-time cancer survivor, and founder of Y-Me's annual Mother's Day race.

She says over the years the hotline has been critical for women facing cancer diagnoses.

"The race is important but it's not the same as picking up the phone and calling somebody when you need them," she said.

Harte says among the reasons for Y-Me's financial problems -- more expenses than income. For example, this year's race failed to meet its $3.5M fundraising goal.

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