Recuperative Retreat
Women Beyond Cancer Helps Women Heal
When local Miami Beach resident Chris Powers lost her sister to brain and breast cancer, she decided life was too short to not be living her dream. She bought a horse farm in South Carolina, thinking that it was a nice tranquil place where she and her family could get away from the hustle and bustle of city life once in a while. Then she read an article about a national nonprofit organization, Women Beyond Cancer, that provides free retreats for women diagnosed with any type of cancer.
Her farm, 50 acres nestled in a 2,500-acre state park, was about to become special to a lot more people than just her and her family. Two Sisters Farm, named in honor of her sister Jeannie, is now a retreat location for women battling cancer, and Powers has become the chairwoman of Women Beyond Cancer.
No schedule – other than when meals are served – is the theme of retreats at Two Sisters Farm. Each guest decides what she would like to do: read, ride a horse, take a jacuzzi, meditate, get a massage, participate in a yoga class, learn to basket weave, sightsee in the adorable town of Aiken, or simply REST! The interesting thing is the women, although given a lot of space to wander, tend to stay in close proximity of each other.
Powers has a strong belief in laughter being the best medicine. “We really have a blast as women feel safe to let down their guard,” she says. Rivien Murphy, a Miami resident and graduate of the Cordon Bleu Cooking School, can attest to the fun and friendship shared at the farm. The chef at the last two retreats, Murphy said she had never cooked before while dodging a conga line of women dancing to that 1960’s hit “So Happy Together.”
Forget the makeup and just throw on the sweat pants! These retreats are all about relaxing and bonding with others going through the same thing. No matter what type of cancer, the door is open for any woman to attend. Not only are the retreats absolutely free for women, but what is even more special about Women Beyond Cancer, no one, including Powers, is paid a penny for their services. Now isn’t that the essence of what a true non-profit should be?
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SocialMiami invites you to visit the Women Beyond Cancer website to learn more about this great organization. And while there, please be sure to look at the beautiful handmade Swarovski crystal necklaces that also make great eyeglass holders. The necklaces are only $60, and 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to funding more retreats for women battling cancer. Your purchase or donation to the organization will go a long way to helping a woman heal.
Supporters of Think Pink and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Tuesday October 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Filene’s Basements its new store at 17651 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, with a great party, official ribbon cutting and a donation to Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation. The store – fabulous brand name and designer fashions for a song – opens for business on Wednesday!
954-454-4156 to RSVP for the party
Wednesday, October 15 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour hosts an evening party to kick off the 2008 Key To The Cure as a benefit for the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Enjoy three floors of shopping, live entertainment, cocktails and tastings by nearly 30 of Miami’s best restaurants and caterers. Local sponsors include Ocean Drive Magazine, Mercedes-Benz of-Miami, Grey Goose and A Joy Wallace Catering Production and Design Team. The $40 admission goes directly to UM/ Sylvester. Tickets are available at the door or by phone.305-243-9088
Thursday, October 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland celebrates 2008 Key To The Cure with an in-store evening of treats and fun to benefit the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM Sylvester and the Joan G. Breast Cancer Research Fund. The Joan G. Fund was established 10 years ago by Joan’s then 13-year-old son Gaines who was celebrating his Bar Mitzvah. With the monetary gifts he received for his birthday he founded the fund for breast cancer research in honor of his mom. He has raised tens of thousands of dollars since then to support the Braman Institute, and Gaines is one of the newest and youngest members of the Founders’ Society at UM Sylvester.305-662-8655
October 16 – 19
2008 Key To The Cure, the women’s cancer initiative founded by Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) will be celebrated with a charity shopping weekend October 16 to 19 in all Saks stores nationwide and through its website. A percentage of sales will benefit local organizations, together with proceeds from every limited edition T-shirt designed by renowned fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. The T-shirts, available now at Saks, retail for $40, and over $35 from each sale benefits Key To The Cure. Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named EIF’s ambassador to 2008 Key To The Cure. In the 10 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping event, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised more than $28 million. The money raised through Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2008 KEY TO THE CURE will build on this success through EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, benefiting more than 50 charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and eventual cures for women’s cancers. For the sixth consecutive year, Mercedes-Benz USA is proud to partner with the EIF Women’s Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue in Key To The Cure. Mercedes-Benz USA has raised funds for women’s cancer research through sales of an exclusive special edition vehicle; this year the 2009 S550 Sedan. The Women’s Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was established by Chairs Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, along with Founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jamie Tisch. WCRF supports innovative research, education and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all women’s cancers.
Saturday, October 18
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure gets underway with registration at 6 a.m. at Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami. There will be 5K coed run/walk beginning at 8:30, a one-mile fun run at 8:50 and a tot run at 9:45.
305-666-RACE
Saturday, October 18 and 25
Sleek MedSpa, presents Pretty For The Cure to benefit Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization founded by Evelyn H. Lauder and dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. At the two Sleek MedSpa locations (Aventura Mall and Town Center Mall in Boca Raton) guests receive one of four Sleek Treatments – Photo Facial (value $475); Laser Hair Removal (value $232); Chemical Peel (value $175); or Microdermabrasion (value $175) – with a minimum donation of $30 to the foundation. Throughout the day (from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on October 18 at Aventura and October 25 at Boca) there will be special demonstrations, promotions and drawings, specialty drinks, Think Pink cupcakes and more.
1-866-42-SLEEK – RSVPs encouraged
Thursday, October 23 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Next in Line, Miami’s young professional organization, hosts its Third Annual Shades of Pink event to benefit the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation. The event is being held at Mansion (1235 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach) where you’ll enjoy a spectacular fashion show presented by Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland and a silent auction with amazing items to benefit the foundation. Other supporters of Shades of Pink are Boca Talent/Model Agency, Chivas Regal and Eggwhites Catering. Tickets are $25 before October 20 and $30 thereafter.
954-454-4156
Throughout October
Desires Hotels, a unique collection of independent boutique hotels that are high in style, invite you to Sleep For The Cure. During October, book your stay at The Glenn in Atlanta, Hotel Mela in New York or The Strand in Miami Beach, and Desires will donate $10 for every night booked to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer efforts. Funds collected for the cause help fight breast cancer in a number of different ways, including: funding research, providing free programs for cancer patients and their families, and keeping awareness up all year round by sending out emails reminding women to get a mammogram.
866-593-4330
Throughout October
RikRak Salon, Boutique & Bar, offering new and innovative approaches to beauty and style, is supporting the power of pink during October. Choose one of the four pink nail polish colors – Pansy, Chastity, Secret Stash or Hard to Get – and RikRak will donate proceeds to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Nail polish can be purchased for $7.50 a bottle at the salon, 1428 Brickell Avenue.
305-371-5577
