Terese Lasser began Reach to Recovery in the United States in 1952. Following her own operation for breast cancer, she persuaded the medical community that patients could benefit from the opportunity to talk with someone who had been through a similar experience. Reach to Recovery grew to be widely accepted and highly regarded by patients and doctors around the world.

In 1974, Francine Timothy and the American Cancer Society introduced Reach to Recovery to Europe. By the time she retired as chair of Reach to Recovery International in 1994, Francine Timothy had seen the program embraced in many countries throughout the world. She was also very successful in convincing medical staff to open their hospitals to Reach to Recovery volunteers.

As a program of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) since 1994, RRI has continued to grow and now reaches women in nearly 100 countries around the world. In May 2009, Cancer Council Queensland took on responsibility for the RRI program. It is an exciting time as RRI members and volunteers look to the future and continue to build on the rich history of Reach to Recovery International that was first inspired by Terese Lasser in 1952.