Wings of Hope Newsletter Edition 06
- Carolina Breast Friends
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Welcome to the November/December Edition of the Carolina Breast Friends Newsletter!
As we arrive at the final Wings of Hope newsletter of 2025, we do so with full hearts and deep gratitude. This past year has been shaped by moments of healing, remembrance, joy, and connection. Moments that remind us why Carolina Breast Friends exists and why The Pink House continues to be a place of strength, compassion, and hope.
In this special year-end edition, we pause to reflect on the voices, stories, and relationships that brought our mission to life throughout 2025. You’ll revisit powerful In the Spotlight conversations with Survivors, Thrivers, and community partners who courageously shared their journeys — each one a reminder that healing is not meant to be carried alone. You’ll also find a partnership rooted in purpose with Women at Microsoft, meaningful gatherings that marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month, practical tools for emotional wellness, and personal reflections from the CBF team as we close out the year together.
As we look ahead to what’s next, we’re reminded that hope doesn’t end when the calendar turns. It lives in community, in showing up for one another, and in the quiet moments of care that happen every day at The Pink House.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us in 2025.
Five Voices. One Mission.
For Melissa Martin, owner of Proper Flower, floral design is about more than beauty, it’s about creating spaces that uplift, inspire, and heal. As the creative mind behind the breathtaking design for Roaring in Pink: A Night in Paris, Melissa shares how her work goes hand-in-hand with the mission of Carolina Breast Friends.
In this special interview, released during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Melissa opens up about her passion for supporting Survivors and Thrivers, why the mission of CBF is so close to her heart, and how design can serve as a powerful expression of hope and resilience.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose — Women at Microsoft
For the Women at Microsoft (WAM) community, partnering with Carolina Breast Friends has been more than a volunteer opportunity; it has been a deeply personal and purpose-driven connection. Like so many in our community, many WAM members have been touched by breast cancer through loved ones, colleagues, or their own experiences. When they first stepped inside The Pink House, they immediately felt the power of a mission centered on dignity, hope, and genuine human connection.
From packing comfort bags and hosting meaningful career panels with Survivors to rallying an entire corporate campus around micro-giving and awareness, WAM’s partnership with Carolina Breast Friends has grown into a powerful example of what happens when compassion meets action. These shared experiences have strengthened empathy, fostered unity, and deepened understanding of the breast cancer journey.
As this year comes to a close, WAM reflects with gratitude on the relationships built, the lives touched, and the sense of community that extends far beyond corporate walls. Their commitment to The Pink House is rooted in a belief that showing up — consistently and wholeheartedly — creates lasting impact.
We’re honored to share their story and thankful for the heart, advocacy, and generosity they continue to bring to our Survivors, Thrivers, and mission.
Moments of Connection & Healing
The past few months at The Pink House have been filled with moments of connection, reflection, and joy. From honoring powerful journeys to creating space for healing and gratitude, each gathering reminded us of the strength, resilience, and community that make Carolina Breast Friends so special.
Indigo Iris Farms – Healing in Bloom
We opened Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a peaceful morning at Indigo Iris Farms, where Survivors and Thrivers found connection, reflection, and grounding among vibrant blooms.
Light Up MBC – National Metastatic Breast Cancer Day
The Charlotte METsters gathered in solidarity as the city skyline glowed teal, lime, and pink, honoring those living with metastatic breast cancer and remembering those we’ve lost.
Pumpkin Smash Bash – Letting Go
Our first Pumpkin Smash Bash offered a powerful release as Survivors and Thrivers symbolically let go of fears and stress—turning reflection into a joyful moment of renewal.
Friendsgiving Brunch
At our annual Friendsgiving Brunch, participants transformed bare branches into a tree of gratitude, sharing food, connection, and a reminder that community helps us bloom, even in hard seasons.
Anchoring Technique for Breast Cancer Survivors, Thrivers & Others
When anxious thoughts or overwhelming emotions begin to take hold, having a simple grounding tool can help bring you back to the present. In this 5-minute video, Dr. Stephanie Rita McDonough, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in cancer and chronic illness, introduces the ACE Technique, also known as “dropping anchor.”
This mindfulness-based practice guides viewers through three gentle steps: Acknowledge and name thoughts, feelings, and sensations; Connect with the body through breath or movement; and Engage in the present by focusing on a meaningful, manageable activity. The ACE Technique can be practiced anywhere—at home, at work, or during moments of heightened stress—and repeated throughout the day as needed.
With compassion and practicality, Dr. McDonough offers a tool to help interrupt anxious rumination and reconnect with the here and now.
Salimah Lee’s Journey of Courage and Advocacy
Salimah Lee’s story is one of courage, advocacy, and grace in the face of unimaginable challenges. A young mother of two, Salimah has faced breast cancer not once—but twice, including a recent recurrence during pregnancy. Through it all, she has leaned on her faith, her “village” of loved ones, and an unshakable belief in listening to her body and standing up for herself.
In this powerful reflection, Salimah shares what it means to navigate treatment while welcoming new life, how humor and love carried her through the hardest moments, and why advocating for your own health can be life-saving. Her journey is a reminder that strength doesn’t always look loud—sometimes it’s found in perseverance, grace, and choosing to keep going, one day at a time.
Voices from The Pink House
As we close out 2025, we pause to reflect with full hearts. The work of Carolina Breast Friends is made possible by the people who show up every day with compassion, commitment, and care for our Survivors and Thrivers and for the mission we hold so closely. Below, the CBF team shares their personal reflections of gratitude as we look back on a year filled with connection, courage, and hope.
“As we close this year, my heart is full of gratitude for the community that ensures no one faces breast cancer alone. Thank you for being the reason hope and healing are possible at Carolina Breast Friends.”
– Lisa Dale, Executive Director
“I’m grateful for everyone I’ve had the privilege to meet and work with this year - from those seeking support, our volunteers, those who come in honor of a loved one, my teammates, and our donors whose generosity makes our work possible. It’s been an honor to be a small part of each of their journeys, and to have each of them be an amazing part of mine.”
– Michelle Weber, Director of Development
“2025 was a year of many life changes, and my heart is filled with gratitude each time I meet a Survivor or Thriver. As I look ahead to 2026, I do so with continued hope and inspiration.”
– Charmaine Tyson, Operations Manager
“This month marks 10 years of me working with Carolina Breast Friends to serve our mission. My life has been profoundly impacted by the Survivors and Thrivers I've met and the transformative support I've been privileged to see firsthand. It fills my heart and swells my memories with countless meaningful and magical moments.”
– Pam Young, Communications Support
“Ending 2025 with a thankful heart and a wiser soul. Blessed by a community that uplifts and a work family that stands together. Being involved with the beautiful Survivors/Thrivers, inspired by strength, and committed to helping others thrive is so rewarding. So thankful to be apart of this, it has helped me heal in so many ways myself as well."
– Amanda Hinson, Financial Associate
"This year held tears, laughter, hard days, and beautiful moments—and through it all, we walked it together. We are endlessly grateful for the Survivors, Thrivers, and Co-Survivors who trusted us with their journey."
– Ashly Dollar, Director, Program & Volunteers
