Helene Swank and her mother, June Swank, have been through so much together, including their battles with cancer. Mary’s Place by the Sea was able to offer these women a time and place to take their mother-daughter bonding to a new level.
In the words of Helene...
Spending time with my Mom has always been important to me and I have always valued our relationship. We laugh uncontrollably over the craziest things and have been there for each other as we both have faced cancer. When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer in 2016, I thought my life was over. I struggled with all that came with the journey of
facing cancer.
What made my challenges more bearable was knowing Mom, who was a 13-year breast cancer survivor at the time, had been through it all as well. She explained reactions that I just couldn’t understand. She held my hand as I cried and feared dying. She made me laugh when I needed to, and she made sure I was never alone, even though I was also supported by amazing friends,
family and an incredible spouse.
I was on my way to recovery late 2017 when I was informed that Mom had stage 4 breast cancer. It had spread to her bones. Not again! It just wasn’t fair. I told my Mom we would face this together; I would be there for her, like she was for me.
It is hard to believe that the month of March is already upon us! It has been a busy start to the year at Mary’s Place. In addition to filling our home with guests each day, over the past two months Mary’s Place has welcomed both survivors and caregivers, on two separate occasions, to experience the serenity and restoration of a stay at Mary’s Place. We believe that
welcoming these new groups for a weekend each year is a way for us to impact the lives of more women living in quiet desperation. The feedback of these women has been outstanding.
As spring approaches, we look forward to what is one of our favorite fundraising events of the year - the Mary’s Place Walk - to reconnect with the many women and men who have become a part of our mission over the past nine years. We hope that you will join us on May 19th for this very special event.
Laurie Gowen has been teaching nutrition education to our guests for the past year and a half. Laurie feels continually inspired by our guests and the opportunity she has to make an impact on their journeys...
Patti Ann Ust has been a House Volunteer at Mary’s Place by the Sea for over six years. She first learned of our mission through a longtime friend who had breast cancer, and was a guest of Mary’s Place.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are 50 or older, getting a colorectal cancer screening test could
save your life.
If you are not attending The Royal Wedding, please join us at “The Royal Walk” - the 7th Annual Mary’s Place by the Sea Walk-A-Thon! Since beginning our mission in 2009, we have supported over 8,000 women, at NO COST to our guests, because of your love and support!
Join us Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Ocean Avenue and Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove, NJ. Please take a moment to REGISTER, CREATE A FUNDRAISER, and SHARE with your friends and family and help us sustain our mission for years to come!
Sponsorship and Vendor Opportunities are now available!
Please call Clare Freda 732-455-5344 or email
We hope to see you there!
The Team at Mary's Place by the Sea
Mary’s Place by the Sea is a respite home for women who are receiving treatment for cancer. We provide services that complement their medical treatment, including oncology massage, nutrition education, individual counseling, Reiki, guided meditation and yoga.
