Wings of Hope Newsletter Edition 04
- bibiana88
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 1
Welcome to the July/August Edition of the Carolina Breast Friends Newsletter!
Celebrating Community, Courage & Couture
We’re so excited to unveil this latest edition of Wings of Hope, where we shine a light on the powerful voices, programs, and partnerships that make The Pink House such a vital space for Survivors and Thrivers.
This month, we’re especially thrilled to announce that Roaring in Pink 2025: A Night in Paris is officially on the horizon! This signature event brings together glamour, giving, and purpose in one unforgettable evening—complete with a couture runway show featuring international designer Luis Machicao. It’s more than a party. It’s a celebration of survivorship, community, and hope.
As always, this newsletter is full of inspiring stories—from the healing power of breathwork, to empowering community retreats, to Survivors like Barb who have found strength at The Pink House and now share that strength with others. At Carolina Breast Friends, every shared moment and meaningful connection reflects our mission to walk alongside those facing breast cancer with compassion and care.
Let’s continue building a community rooted in hope, healing, and heart.
Reiki, Resilience & the Power of Connection
At The Pink House, healing comes in many forms—and in this month’s In the Spotlight, we sit down with Barb, a Survivor, mentor, and Reiki practitioner who brings warmth, wisdom, and healing energy to our community.
Barb shares how she first connected with Carolina Breast Friends after her breast cancer diagnosis, the role The Pink House played in her own recovery, and how she now gives back by mentoring others and offering free one-on-one Reiki sessions to Survivors and Thrivers.
Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and the quiet power of simply showing up for others.
Watch the full video with Barb:
The Wonder Behind Every Wellness Program
If you’ve ever attended a retreat, class, or creative workshop at The Pink House, chances are you’ve experienced the warmth and energy of Ashly Dollar, our Director of Programs and Volunteers. For Ashly, this role is far more than a job—it’s a deeply personal calling inspired by a dear friend and a passion for creating meaningful, cost-free experiences that help Survivors and Thrivers reconnect with joy, movement, and community.
Connection, Healing & Growth
We’re excited to share some of the meaningful moments and powerful programs that have been happening recently at The Pink House!
Flat Support Group – Relaunched and Thriving: We’ve relaunched our Flat Support Group, creating a safe, supportive space for individuals who have chosen to stay flat after a mastectomy—whether by choice, due to medical reasons, or are currently considering going flat. This ongoing group encourages open discussions around body image, clothing, intimacy, and everyday life after a flat closure mastectomy. Together, we’re fostering connection, confidence, and community.
Metster Mixer – Connection Through Joy: Our newest program, the Metster Mixer, is now happening regularly at The Pink House! It’s a chance for our Metastatic Thrivers to come together and simply enjoy life—through laughter, connection, and fun. Our recent game night was a hit, capped off with delicious ice cream floats. The laughter coming from the dining room filled the house with joy!
Young Survivors Take Over Uptown: Our Young Survivors crew took to the streets of Uptown Charlotte on rideable “animals” for a fun and quirky city adventure! Along the way, we learned unique facts about our city, admired beautiful homes in Fourth Ward, and cruised through gardens and parks. It was a reminder that while life may throw challenges at us (lions, tigers, and bears—oh my!), we keep pushing forward and living life to the fullest.
No matter what life brings—whether it’s forming new friendships with those who truly understand, laughing through the hard moments, or facing life’s biggest beasts—our Survivors and Thrivers at Carolina Breast Friends are doing it all, together.
Breathe. Feel. Release.
In the midst of healing—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it’s easy to forget the power of something as simple as your breath. In this guided mindfulness session with therapist and wellness expert Emily Parks, participants are invited to reconnect with themselves through gentle breathwork and body awareness.
Whether you’re navigating treatment, recovery, or the day-to-day stress of survivorship, this calming practice offers a moment of stillness and release. It’s not about perfection—it’s about presence, compassion, and honoring where you are right now.
Watch the full mindfulness session here:
A Collaboration with Queens University
Meet Julie Turner
Julie Turner is a mother, dental assistant, dragon boater, and a metastatic breast cancer Thriver who faces life with unmatched honesty and grit. After discovering a lump during a quiet moment with her dog, Julie’s world shifted—and so did her perspective. Now living with stage 4 oligometastatic breast cancer, she continues to meet each challenge with resilience, humor, and a commitment to advocacy.
In her own words, she’s a “reforming perfectionist” who embraces imperfection and believes in showing up authentically—even with “chemo brain and fatigue.” Julie finds strength in family, nature, music, and her community at The Pink House, where she’s part of the Charlotte METsters support group. She’s fiercely committed to raising awareness about metastatic and young breast cancer, and she’s not afraid to say: “I’m more than a statistic.”
Judith’s story is one of reclaiming health, rewriting family legacy, and redefining resilience at every age.
Gratitude: Launching Cancer and Beyond, powered by B&C
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Cancer and Beyond, a new hybrid wellness program developed in partnership with The After Cancer, a telehealth provider specializing in whole-person survivorship care. This program will offer Survivors and Thrivers access to personalized one-on-one care plans, live and on-demand wellness sessions, educational resources, and exclusive in-person gatherings as they navigate life beyond treatment.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our generous donors, B&C, whose support allows us to fully fund the first 25 participants in this pilot initiative. Because of you, we’re able to bring integrative, evidence-informed care to our community, ensuring that healing and hope continue long after diagnosis.
