Wings of Hope Newsletter Edition 10
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Welcome to the July/August Edition of the Carolina Breast Friends Newsletter!
This summer, we're celebrating the people, moments, and connections that remind us healing is never a journey we take alone. From Monica's inspiring message about choosing joy each day to Maggie's powerful Story of Strength, this edition is filled with reminders that hope grows through community, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward.
You'll also hear from Executive Director Lisa Dale Levinson as she reflects on the incredible momentum behind Carolina Breast Friends, catch up on recent happenings at The Pink House, explore this month's Wellness Tip, and learn about an exciting new partnership helping shape the future of survivorship care.
Thank you for being part of our Carolina Breast Friends family. Whether you've been with us for years or are just beginning your journey, we're so glad you're here.
In the Spotlight: A message from our Executive Director
As we reach the halfway point of the year, Executive Director Lisa Dale Levinson takes a moment to reflect on the incredible momentum behind Carolina Breast Friends—and the community that makes it all possible. From the overwhelming response to Roaring in Pink and the everyday acts of kindness that fuel our mission to the exciting opportunities still ahead, Lisa shares a heartfelt reminder that meaningful impact is built one connection at a time.
Mission Moments: Choosing Joy Every Day
CBF Mentor Monica Shares the Power of Hope, Community & Living Fully
For Monica, a metastatic breast cancer Thriver, mentor, and leader of Carolina Breast Friends' Wednesday Morning Support Group, every day is an opportunity to choose joy. In this edition’s Mission Moment Spotlight, she shares how The Pink House became a source of hope during her own journey, and how she now helps others discover that there is life beyond a breast cancer diagnosis.
Through heartfelt reflections on mentorship, community, and the importance of showing up for one another, Monica reminds us that healing isn't meant to happen alone. Her message is simple yet powerful: find joy in each day, lean on those around you, and never underestimate the impact of hope.
Recent happenings:
Each month, Carolina Breast Friends brings our community together through programs that inspire connection, encourage wellness, and remind Survivors, Thrivers, Co-Survivors, and their loved ones that they never have to face this journey alone.
Charlotte METsters Quarterly Mingle
Our quarterly METsters Mingle brought metastatic breast cancer Thrivers and their families together for an afternoon of connection, support, and community. Together, they were reminded that no one has to face this journey alone.
Healing Through Art: Watercolor Workshop
Survivors and Thrivers explored the healing power of creativity during our Watercolor Workshop. Each participant left with a unique painting and a renewed sense of connection and encouragement.
Detox & Defend: What's in Your Kitchen?
Led by Dr. Scott Gremillion and Nichole Adamson, this wellness workshop offered practical tips for reducing everyday toxin exposure and supporting healthier living.
Morning Support Group Continues to Grow
Our Morning Support Group continues to bring more Survivors and Thrivers together each month to share encouragement, build friendships, and remind one another that no one has to face breast cancer alone.
Wellness Tip: Positively Impactful
Like Monica shares in this month's Mission Moments feature, finding joy each day is a choice; and so is caring for ourselves in ways that nurture both our minds and our bodies. While we can't always control life's challenges, we can choose small, intentional habits that help us move forward with hope, resilience, and purpose.
This month's Wellness Tip explores how the thoughts we cultivate, the words we speak to ourselves, and the simple choices we make each day can positively impact our overall well-being. Discover practical ways to create more space for positivity, one moment at a time.
Stories of Strength: Maggie Fogel — Living Life Fully
When Maggie Fogel was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she believed it was the end of the life she had imagined. Instead, it became the beginning of a new perspective; one rooted in self-advocacy, gratitude, and choosing to fully embrace each day. In this month's Story of Strength, Maggie shares how community, purpose, and the courage to live authentically have helped her redefine what it means to thrive.
Gratitude: Innovation Through Partnership
At Carolina Breast Friends, we're continually inspired by the partnerships that help move survivorship care forward. Recently, we had the privilege of welcoming NC State University's Industrial Design research team to The Pink House for an exciting collaboration focused on improving the comfort and fit of post-surgical breast forms for Survivors and Thrivers.
What made this experience especially meaningful was the willingness of our Survivors and Thrivers to share their personal stories, challenges, and insights. Their lived experiences are helping inform research that has the potential to improve the quality of life for countless others navigating life after breast cancer.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Yuanqing Tian and the NC State research team for their innovation, compassion, and commitment to patient-centered design, and to every Survivor and Thriver who participated. Together, we're helping shape a future where survivorship care is more personalized, more comfortable, and more empowering.
