Southport Magazine

Story and Photos by Beth A. Klahre

In just a few days, pink feather flags will be flying all around Oak Island! For the eleventh year, twelve families impacted by breast cancer have been invited to attend a week-long all expenses paid retreat on Oak Island. These 50 adults and children will be guests of Little Pink Houses of Hope, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. Little Pink promotes breast cancer recovery through opportunities for survivors to celebrate life and operates through a belief that a cancer diagnosis affects the entire family.

Little Pink Houses was founded by Jeanine Patten-Coble, an 11-year breast cancer survivor who started the organization after noticing the gap in services for families of survivors. Since 2009, retreats have been held at more than 20 locations across the country including Emerald Isle, North Carolina; Key West, Florida; Orange Beach, Alabama; and our own Oak Island.

When the retreat week begins, Jody Carroll from St. Louis, Missouri will step in as the retreat director for her second year at Oak Island. As director, she is responsible for coaching and leading the VolunSTARS, a specially-trained group of volunteers. VolunSTARS, also arriving from across the country just in time for the retreat, are tasked to check in daily with the families and handle issues, needs or concerns. VolunSTARS work together as a team to create a memorable experience for participant families.

Team Pink is the crew on the ground that has been preparing for the families arrivals on September 18, 2022. Leading Team Pink are Connie Kelly and Nancy Newcom, who are both back for their second consecutive year, and Marianne Lawruk, who has been on the team since 2017.

“Team Pink started brainstorming immediately after the retreat finished last year. We think about what we could do to help the VolunSTARS and the retreat director run a successful week. And we all just pitch in with the preparations where needed,” said Connie. 

And there are many preparations. Team Pink has been busy lining up meals and activities for the entire week. That’s 490 meals and seven days of activities. On the activities docket are a day at the beach complete with games and a picnic lunch, kayaking near the Oak Island Recreation Center and stand up paddle boarding sponsored by Ocean Cure from Carolina Beach. Additional fun activities and excursions are also in the works.

As in prior years, the local community has generously stepped up to help. The welcome and farewell dinners will be held at Ocean View United Methodist Church on Oak Island. Team Pink will decorate the church hall with a fun beach theme, where a catered dinner will be served. 

“The welcome dinner is a chance for the families to meet one another and to get to know the VolunSTARS,” said Marianne. 

The Southport Woman’s Club is preparing welcome bags for each family filled with a variety of local gifts and beach supplies, including a bracelet for the cancer survivor donated by Boo & Roo’s, and activity and coloring books for the kids. The St. James Quilters are making pillows for the families. The Oak Island Elks Lodge #2769 and Oak Island Recreation Center held fundraisers throughout the past year to benefit Little Pink Houses. 

Team Pink has organized several community drives to collect beach towels, cleaning supplies and paper products to stock each family’s beach house. Homes for the week are also donated. The Little Pink team in Burlington worked with local real estate agencies including Oak Island Accommodations as well as private owners to find each family an appropriately-sized house for their week.

“It’s so rewarding to see it all come together through the generosity of so many people,” added Nancy. 

Connie agreed, saying she’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. “Breast cancer has touched the lives of literally every person I meet. When someone hears about Little Pink, the first question they ask is how they can help. It reminds me that people are kind and generous and want to offer hope in any way possible,” she said.

At the farewell dinner on the final evening of the retreat, the families will have a chance to talk about their experience. Many will share what the week has meant them and how it helped them heal and relax. There will be tears and cheers. And bittersweet goodbyes among new-found friends facing common health challenges.

“Little Pink gives a special gift to the survivors – time. Time to get away. Time to be with those who are most important to them. It gives them a place to relax and have fun. It makes the intangible tangible,” concludes Connie. 

It’s not too late to help. Local businesses are welcome to donate. Information can be found on the website at https://www.littlepink.org, or contact Kathy Gates at kathy@littlepink.org or 336-213-4733.