Big Hope with Little Pink Houses

Little Pink Houses of Hope, the national nonprofit that provides free, weeklong vacation retreats to families battling breast cancer, kicked off its third annual Marco Island retreat on Sunday, June 1, welcoming 11 families from across the country to enjoy a week in paradise.

At a kick-off dinner hosted by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Little Pink founder Jeanine Patten Coble told the group of 75 retreat family members and volunteers from both Marco and elsewhere, “At Little Pink, we don’t just give families a break from cancer, we give them a week to breathe, connect and rediscover joy. Hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s something we create together.”

The entire week, from the donated rental properties the families stay in, to all meals and activities, are completely free to the families, thanks to the generosity of Marco Island’s residents and businesses. Clausen Properties organized the home donations.

“Once again, the Marco community is stepping up to provide an amazing week for our families,” said Brad Shaw, the local volunteer retreat coordinator for Little Pink. “At a time when these families need it most, Marco is showing them how much this city puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to helping others.”

Shaw said that every family will have a private, waterfront home with a pool for the week. Group meals were donated by Mister Crabcakes, Marco Island Yacht Club, The Crabby Lady, iTrip, and John and Dianne Kernan, who, for the second year in a row, are hosting the families for a poolside cookout at their Isles of Capri condominium complex, Twin Dolphins.

Activities on tap for the week include a dolphin tour with Florida Adventures; a champagne cruise for the parents aboard a private yacht, followed by dinner at the Marco Island Yacht Club; paddle boarding at Tigertail Lagoon; a caregiver kayak tour with Paddle Marco; and a closing lunch cruise aboard the Marco Princess.

Island Bike Shop donated bikes for the week to all the families, and dozens of local restaurants and other businesses have donated thousands of dollars in gift cards and other items for the families. Local organizations such as the Woman’s Club of Marco Island, Marco Island Academy, and The Shell Club of Marco Island also provided volunteers and/or donations.

Powering the effort is a group of local volunteers called Team Pink, who spend the year working with Shaw to plan the retreat and help solicit donations.

Team Pink member Judy Sacher, herself a breast cancer survivor, said she and her husband Larry get more than they give when it comes to Little Pink.

“It’s just an amazing week for everyone involved, including the volunteers,” Sacher said. “The families are always blown away by the beauty and generosity of Marco Island, like they can’t even believe this place exists. It’s wonderful to see them relax and take a breath and a break from all the doctor appointments and worries they left behind for a week. We’re so proud to be part of the effort.”

In addition to the local Team Pink volunteers, Little Pink flies in a specially trained group of volunteers that it calls “Volunstars,” who act as concierges of sorts for families during the week, helping them address any needs that arise.

“It’s really cool to see our Volunstars seamlessly blend in with Team Pink and all the families each year,” Patten Coble said. “By the end of the week, we all feel like one big family.”

Shaw said next year’s retreat is already slated for May 30 through June 6, 2025.