Jen Daponde
2026 Participant/Breast Cancer Survivor
Carolina Beach, NC

The real magic of Little Pink House of Hope revealed itself from the very first moment we arrived. I immediately felt like I was part of something bigger.

I was paired with the most incredible VolunSTAR, Cindy, who never stopped making me feel special the entire week. When I shared how excited I was that the park we were visiting was home to native Venus flytraps, she went out of her way to track them down and took me on a hike to find them, my science teacher heart was so happy! And when I casually mentioned wishing I had brought a bike, the very next morning Ashley had one delivered right to my doorstep. Those moments may seem small, but they meant everything—they made me feel seen, heard, and truly cared for.

Everywhere we went, it was clear how deeply the surrounding community supports Little Pink and its mission. That kind of generosity and love is something you can feel.

And then there were the women and their families. I truly believe I’ve made connections that will last a lifetime. What started as a group of strangers quickly became a Little Pink family—one I am so incredibly grateful for. Sharing this experience with them was something I will always cherish, and I’m already looking forward to staying connected and seeing them again.