Little Pink Houses of Hope

Little Pink Houses of Hope, the national nonprofit that conducts free, weeklong vacation retreats for families battling breast cancer, held its second annual retreat on Marco Island June 2-8, hosting 12 families from across the country.

All of the families stayed in waterfront homes with pools that were donated by local homeowners and coordinated through Clausen Properties and iTrip, two local property management companies. Every home, meal and activity for the week was donated, sponsored or discounted by Marco Island businesses and other organizations, representing more than $65,000 in in-kind donations.

“Once again, Marco Island stepped up to deliver an absolutely spectacular week for the families,” said Little Pink founder and president Jeanine Patten-Coble, who was in Marco for the week serving as one of eight “Volunstars,” specially trained volunteers who attended to the families’ needs during the week. “The Marco Island community truly has a big heart and generous spirit, and our families all felt that love firsthand.”

The 45 family members all arrived on Sunday, June 2, and received their property keys and other check-in instructions at Marco Lutheran Church, which also hosted the opening dinner that evening, sponsored by the Democratic Women’s Club of Marco, with dinner served by the Marco Island Woman’s Club. Police Chief Tracy Frazzano, herself a breast cancer survivor, addressed the group and spent time getting to know each of the families both at the dinner and the next day while the families enjoyed a day at the beach and a lunch that was catered by local chef Laura Owen and sponsored by iTrip.

That afternoon, Marco resident and Volunstar Mary Shaw hosted the 12 survivors at the Shaws’ home in Marco for tea and an opportunity to share their cancer journeys with each other, a key element to the strong bond that formed during the week among the survivors and families.

“I met 11 other women who have also fought or are fighting breast cancer,” said Julie Rhodes of Denver, Colorado, who attended the retreat with her two daughters. “I had no idea how alone I felt in all this until I met them. I now have a whole family of pink sisters who are here for each other.”

On Tuesday morning, the families boarded three boats in Goodland for a dolphin tour donated by Florida Adventures and were treated to lunch at Crabby Lady by owners Jim and Erin Feehan, the second year they’ve donated lunch to the Little Pink participants.

“I think we’ve all been impacted one way or the other by cancer,” said Erin Feehan. “We’re very fortunate to live in such a close-knit and generous community, and it’s important that we all give these people a special time.”

Wednesday morning, the ladies’ caregivers trekked to Isles of Capri for a guided kayak tour of mangrove tunnels donated by Paddle Marco, then the entire group of families attended a lunch cookout donated and hosted by John and Dianne Kernan at the community pool at La Peninsula, the condominium where the couple lives. The families spent hours swimming and watching dolphins in the Gulf while John and fellow La Peninsula resident Steve Miller grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats for the families, who were served salads and desserts made by Dianne. 

Later that evening was “Family Fun Night,” hosted by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which also donated an inflatable bounce house for the kids, as well as $1,000 in Publix gift cards for the families. Mister Crabcakes donated the dinner for the evening, and members of the Marco Island Police and Fire Departments joined the families for a dinner of penne a la vodka, meatballs, and pasta salad.

Thursday morning, the families converged on Tigertail Lagoon for two hours of stand-up paddle boarding donated by Marco Fun. In the evening, the parents boarded a 75-foot private luxury yacht at Marco Island Yacht Club for a champagne cruise followed by an elegant plated dinner in the club’s temporary dining facility, all while the kids attended a party at nearby Marco Island Marina’s pool. The kid’s dinner of hamburgers, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese sandwiches was also donated by Marco Island Yacht Club, whose new general manager, Missy Duffy, coordinated the entire evening.

“We’re obviously going through some pretty dramatic renovation and disruption right now, but that doesn’t lessen our desire to give back,” Duffy said. “Thanks to the generosity of our club and its members, we were able to give the Little Pink parents a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that they’ll never forget.”

The families, volunteers, and guests from the community took over the Marco Island Princess on Friday for a closing lunch cruise, during which the families recounted the most impactful moments of the week, a session marked by fond memories and tears of deep gratitude and love for the community they called home for a week. And there was singing and laughing too, particularly when 13-year-old Arianna Kost from Ohio took to the microphone and announced to the group, “I’m grateful I got to live in a $2.6 million house this week.” Cathy Clausen from Clausen Properties, which had secured the property donation, confirmed Arianna was in the ballpark.

In addition to the meals and activities donated for the week, many businesses and organizations stepped up with donated gift cards and other items for the families. Local businesses and organizations who contributed included: Bella Florals, Better Solution Wellness, Calusa Garden Club of Marco, Ciao Bella, Davide Italian Café, Elite Nails and Spa, Hoots, Island Décor, Jillian Lee Photography, Kretch’s, La Miranda Nails and Spa, Mango’s Dockside Grill, Naples Botanical Garden, Phelan Family Brands (CJ’s On the Bay, Pinchers), S. McLaughlin Unique Gifts, Sami’s Pizza and Grill, Shell Club of Marco Island, Shy Wolf Sanctuary, Stonewalls, and Sunshine Booksellers. Local resident Leslie Gaynor baked 34 dozen homemade cookies for the kids and volunteers to enjoy all week, and Island Bike Shop donated bikes for the families to use during the retreat.

Behind the scenes, a group of more than 20 local residents named “Team Pink” spent eight months meeting, planning, and soliciting local donations. They attended most events during the week to help move equipment, serve meals, and give hope and encouragement to the families.

“Team Pink really is Marco Island’s secret sauce when it comes to the success of our retreat here,” Little Pink founder Patten-Coble said. “These are people who opened more than their checkbooks. They opened their hearts, and that really comes through when you see how they interact with the families with such empathy and compassion.”

The retreat participants had high praise for the week and the impact it had on their families and their own personal cancer journey. 

“The week with Little Pink was extraordinary,” said Karen Siegel, a survivor from Boca Raton. “It was exactly what we needed to get away from all my medical treatments and just come to relax and rejuvenate and meet all the other wonderful survivors. It’s just been the experience of a lifetime. Marco Island has such an innate beauty to it because nature is in the forefront and it’s so beautifully designed and well-kept. I’ve seen amazing wildlife like dolphins and turtles and manatees and owls and pelicans, you name it! It’s truly something I’ll never forget.”

“It was fantastic,” said Rick Scarbrough, husband of survivor Lisa Scarbrough from Peachtree City, Georgia. “It was exactly what we needed as a family to kind of recharge. All the structured activities we’d never be able to find by ourselves and to feel part of a collective tribe was just incredible. Marco Island is like its own country just off the coast of Florida. It’s like a self-contained ecosystem. The laid back vibe of the island lets you really get into island time when you’re here. You’re outside the hustle and bustle of everyday life and I think Marco Island is a little enclave for that. “ 

“Oh goodness. I am speechless,” said Lindsay Rowe, a participant from Houston, Texas. “This was above and beyond anything I could have imagined. I expected people to be kind and friendly and to have a good time, but I can actually say this is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.”

After returning home from Marco, the good vibes from the participants continued to flow through their social media channels. “I sit here with tears in my eyes thinking of all the great things I got to do this week with my family and my new Little Pink family,” posted Kim Wilson from Fitzgerald, Georgia. “We only spent a week with the volunteers and the other survivors, and I have tons of new friends and support now because of this wonderful organization. I can’t wait to help to give back to Little Pink and hope I can volunteer one year at another retreat. It was a perfect week for my family.”  

In her post-retreat survey, Nicole Donelson from New Boston, Texas wrote:  

“One of the most significant blessings was the opportunity to bond with my brother in ways we hadn't before. Whether it was reliving our childhood in the pools or embracing the serenity of the ocean, those moments were priceless. Moreover, the retreat provided my family with a much-needed reset. Away from the chaos of scans and needles, we found solace and healing. It was a chance to navigate through the trauma and confusion together, without the constant reminders of illness. But perhaps the most profound impact was the reconnection with my spirituality. Away from the noise, I could hear my Creator's voice again. This newfound peace, this understanding, is beyond words. I am eternally grateful for this experience and the opportunity it has given me to rediscover joy, love, and peace. #grateful.”

The 2025 Little Pink Marco Island retreat will be held June 1 through 7.