Breast cancer patients get a retreat in Key West

By Susan Mitchell

Little Pink Houses of Hope came to Key West this week to give ten families a break from doctor appointments, chemotherapy, radiation and medical bills. Ten families who are in the throws of battling breast cancer took to the waves, paddle boarding, picnicking, and many other activities and attractions Key West has to offer. The organizational mission is  to empower breast cancer patients and families to live each day to the fullest, with direction, purpose and hope for the cancer journey.

Key West resident Jerry Stefan lost his wife to breast cancer and volunteers in her memory. Stefan said he wants to give back because he knows what these families are going through as he helped moms, dads and children balance on paddle boards.

Sue Cooper, owner of Lazy Dog, said seeing the smiles on their faces makes it all worth while. Cooper has been giving the families a paddle board adventure for the last seven years when the program began in Key West.

“We all come down here thinking we’re helping the families and we leave getting much more than we gave,” said Amy Humphrey, of Burlington, NC, who directed the retreat.

Many of the families have never snorkeled; seen a coral reef; or a sunset on the water from a boat, according to local Little Pink coordinator Sharon Dickinson.

Locally the following businesses made this retreat possible:

Fishbusterz Seafood Market, Salty Angler, Dions Chicken,  Dairy Queen, Key West Cakes, Two Friends, Kilwins, Maetheessens , Just Sand and Water, Bagatelles, Antionios, Blackfin, Martins, Cafe Sole, Azure, Margaritaville Resort Bistro, Santiagos Bodego, La Te Da, Coca Cola of the Florida Keys. Activities: Fort Zachary Taylor, Sunset Water Sports, Fury Water Adventures, Lazy Dog, Key West Garden Club and West Martello, Butterfly Conservatory, Woman’s Club, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church as our host.

Little Pink Houses of Hope plans retreat vacations for families dealing with breast cancer in twenty cities across the country. Local residents donate their houses or rental cottages and businesses donate cuisine and activities. To volunteer or donate food, housing or activities for the week-long retreat in June 2020, contact Sharon Dickinson at [email protected]