Families battling cancer get free beach retreat to Pleasure Island
PLEASURE ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — The fight against cancer can be a tough battle not only for the patient but also their families.
Little Pink Houses of Hope is a non-profit organization that gives breast cancer patients and their families a free week long beach retreat.
11 families from all over the country are staying on Pleasure Island this week, for free.
These families have never met before but have all one thing in common, breast cancer.
“For most people, it’s a frying pan that hits you over the head, you’re not expecting it, it comes out of nowhere and it kind of rocks you at your foundation,” Jeanine Pattern-Coble, Little Pink Houses of Hope Founder, said.
The organization gives families battling cancer an opportunity to enjoy a full week at the beach and a chance to reconnect with one another.
Patten-Coble once had cancer and says what got their through it was her family.
“Our ultimate goal at Little Pink is to serve our families during this week in a way their truly can feel god’s love,” Patten-Coble said.
Chiloe Kottke was diagnosed last May and says it’s been long journey.
“People you expect to be there sometimes aren’t and then you get this crazy overwhelming support from people, complete strangers,” Kottke said. “It’s hard to explain, but just absolutely amazing.”
Kate Weiss is the owner of Kate’s Pancake House in Carolina Beach has been a part of the organization since the beginning.
“We raised $18,085 last year just by folks donating their change and rounding up their check to the next dollar,” Weiss said.
Weiss said all the money raised makes retreats like this one happen throughout the year free of charge for the families.
“We can send a family of four on one of these retreats for only $563 a family,” Weiss said. “They never take their wallets out.”
From paddle boarding lessons to a beach house to a private dinner at the aquarium, every single part of the week was donated by the community.
For Anthony Jenkins, his favorite part is to see his mom happy again.
“I just like seeing everyone smile because you haven’t smiled in a year, and you actually forget what they look like when they actually smile.”
Many say happiness can be limited during this dark time, but it’s important to stay positive.
“We have so many people that come through our program and they go home and do really well, and we a lot of people that come through our program who are terminal and they end up passing away,” Patten-Coble said. “When you think about the opportunity you get to just be on a journey with somebody and have a moment of their life kind of cross your path, it’s such a gift.”
A trip made up to forever memories and to never forget how precious life really is.
“They don’t make cancer number one anymore,” Weiss. “They make family number one, and that’s what a lot of them leave with.”
“Take it one day at a time and live,” Kottke said. “Live your life.”
There will another beach retreat this year in Oak Island.
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