The View from the Halfway Mark

A Message from Lisa Dale, Executive Director of Carolina Breast Friends

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Lisa Dale

Someone recently asked me if summer is our "slow season" at Carolina Breast Friends. I couldn't help but laugh.I'm convinced there's a secret meeting where everyone else decides to relax for the summer. At the same time, nonprofits collectively say, "This seems like the perfect time to launch new initiatives, plan major events, meet with donors, write grants, and somehow remember to drink enough water."

The truth is, summer is one of our favorite times of year, not because things slow down, but because it gives us a chance to look up from the daily whirlwind and appreciate just how far we've come.

Every day at Carolina Breast Friends, I'm reminded that one person doesn't build our mission. It's built by thousands of moments. A team member, board member, or committee who says, “Let’s do it!” or a volunteer who raises a hand, "I'll help." A donor who responds, "Count me in." A Survivor or Thriver who walks through our doors feeling uncertain and leaves with a smile. A healthcare partner who believes every patient deserves more than excellent treatment; they deserve community.

Those moments add up.

This year, we've celebrated milestones that remind us our community continues to grow stronger. One of those milestones came earlier than expected when our Signature fundraising event scheduled for October 9, Roaring in Pink: A Night with a Thousand Lights, sold out individual tickets and tables in 17 days. While we're thrilled to welcome a full house this October, what excites me even more is what that sold-out room represents: hundreds of people who believe that no one should face breast cancer alone.

That kind of support never gets old.

As Executive Director, I have the privilege of seeing what happens behind the scenes. I see our staff celebrating victories that most people will never know about. I see volunteers giving their time without asking for recognition. I see board members sharing their expertise, healthcare professionals extending their partnership, and donors quietly saying, "What else can we do?"

Those are the stories that inspire me.

As we head into the second half of the year, I'm filled with optimism, not because our work is finished, but because there is still so much possibility ahead. We will continue to find new ways to reach more Survivors, Thrivers, and Co-Survivors, remove barriers to support care, and ensure that every person who walks through our doors feels welcomed, supported, and understood.

That's what progress looks like. It's not always flashy. Sometimes it's one conversation, one connection, one act of kindness at a time.

So wherever this summer finds you, I hope you'll take a moment to celebrate your own progress. Spend time with the people who fill your cup. Watch the sunset. Eat the ice cream. (If it doesn’t melt before you finish it, I'm choosing to believe that means you needed another scoop.)

Thank you for believing in Carolina Breast Friends and for making this community one of compassion, hope, and unwavering support. Every day, you remind us that while breast cancer may be part of someone's story, it never has to be the whole story.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. We'll be busy…but we wouldn't have it any other way.

With gratitude,

Lisa Dale Levinson

Executive Director

Carolina Breast Friends