Every time the lovely and talented Julie Bell comes back from a Pink Sistas, Inc even, she is floating and glowing and SO happy. We’re delighted you made your Giving Tuesday goal and look forward to participating and contributing more in 2025.

-Retreat Attendee Spouse

Pink Sistas is a delightful group of cancer survivors who congregate for a wide variety of activities and events that bring about solidarity toward increased survival by wringing out every drop of life that is available. A very strong and mighty group led by Deb Hart who through her own insightfulness saw the need for such a dedicated organization. Its a group of survivors that I'm proud to be a part of.

-Retreat Attendee

This is the boost I needed to get over my insecurities about my recovery and the cancer was a tough time to be diagnosed during Covid. Im just really grateful for you and so grateful for Libby. I love that woman so much.

-Retreat Attendee

What a terrific day.. Awesome food, fun crafts, and best of all the time spent with outstanding women... Thank You Diane everything was wonderful, and you are a fantastic Host!!!!

-Retreat Attendee

I was blessed with an opportunity to enjoy another Pink Sistas Retreat! What a gift to spend time with women that sincerely know what it is to embrace life, be courageous, support and encourage each other! Deb has definitely created a beautiful space for breast cancer fighters to be vulnerable and lift each other up! I don't generally wear pink but I definitely see some coming to my wardrobe! The sincerity and support I felt overwhelmed me. #PinkSistas #breastcancerawareness

-Retreat Attendee

My first experience with the Pink Sistas was a 3 day retreat in Salem.  I didn't realize how much I needed this until reflecting on it once I was home. 

The ladies I met were so inspirational to me.  They were all ages, all our diagnosis' were varying along with our treatments.  

While sharing our stories there was laughter, tears and so much love in the room it was very therapeutic. 

Sitting around the campfire at night visiting about anything and everything we learned other things about each other that continued forming the bond between us.  

Dear Deb,

Thank you for sharing with me and listening to me today. I so needed a meaningful, mental hug...

Had a fabulous, restful afternoon on the Columbia, courtesy of Deb Hart, Diane and Pink Sistas!! Loved the pontoon boat ride, food and encouraging conversations!! I didn't even have my drains out from my double mastectomy (on July 9th)!! Jump on in ladies and give your souls some comfort!! Big Hugs to all you strong survivors!!

Blessings to you dear Pink Sistah

-Retreat Attendee

I can now say that I am rested up!! I don’t know how to thank you for the opportunity to meet 17 Amazing women. It was so evident within 48 hours after being home that you all truly do understand in ways that no one else can. I’m so incredibly blessed by my time with all of you. It was well worth the recoup time that I needed.

— Retreat Attendee

Pink Sistas is good for the soul! These day/overnight retreats are truly what any breast cancer woman is going through needs. A day of peace and fun and to talking to someone who is going through it or has been through breast cancer. Everyone always says they were nervous walking in, but the love and support you get is just what you need. I feel honored I’ve been part of these retreats. I tell everyone I know about how amazing and inspirational Deb Hart is. We love and thank you. I recommend these fun, relaxing and peaceful retreats.

— Retreat Attendee

A great experience, I am so happy I was able to attend! We had fun, stayed in a beautiful floating and had great food! Thank you Deb!

— Retreat Attendee

I’ve met the most wonderful group of women this weekend. Wouldn’t have wanted to miss it for the world. It has enriched my life. The homey feeling we created with the group and Deb was phenomenal.

— Retreat Attendee

Hello… I want to share my experience with the Pink Sistas as I am so blessed and happy I found them.

I was a lucky one as I could join the beach retreat trip last week as one of them had to cancel (it seems it was Penda… so sorry you missed these days; I heard what an awesome sparkling sista you are). I was a bit nervous if that was the right thing for me to spend three days with 15 strangers and hear so many other cancer stories.

Turns out it was “exactly” what I needed!

I am amazed how 15 strangers bond so quickly! Everything was very well organized by Deb and her board members Libby and Bradley. We made beautiful beach walks, crafting, had delicious food and had a lot of time to just let it flow. We could do whatever we felt for… it was very relaxing.

Everybody could share their cancer journey if they wanted to and when they were ready to do so and it felt so safe and protected in this group. There was so much love and care around me and it was very healing. I am lucky to have also great support from my family and friends… but it’s very different when you are with souls who can much more relate to it as they went through similar experiences.

All the ladies were very special and different in their own way and their stories – but yet it feels we are all the same.

A few days after this retreat I had an ultrasound appointment (I felt a lump for a while in the other breast I did not have cancer)… but everything was okay! I have dense breast tissue that can feel like a lump sometimes …it might also have helped that I was wearing the beautiful “Sista-bracelet” (we got besides many other presents) when I had my appointment. Thank you my sistas for these wonderful and inspiring days… it makes me feel I am not alone!

And especially thanks to Deb who does an awesome job leading this group!

— 2023 Pacific City Beach Retreat Attendee

“We all took the same path up those stairs. Most of us are apprehensive. What awaits? The reality is anytime you bring strangers together it is a bit intimidating… What does this weekend even look like? None of us knew and what unfolded was purely organic. You cannot script this journey. It must be felt and experienced to be appreciated. This weekend represented putting down my warrior armor and allowing me to be vulnerable. To be with women who understand.

It has truly been an honor to be part of this amazing experience. One that will continue to grow. Deb has given us a much bigger gift than this incredible weekend. She has given us a shared bond. I will be forever grateful I took these steps up those stairs and met all of you beautiful, strong, kind, inspiring women!”

— Retreat Attendee

I enjoyed and appreciated my very first association with any support group for breast cancer survivors yesterday. A friend, Wanda Frenzel, invited me and I found myself floating on the Columbia River in a party boat with other survivors and a thriver. It was fun! I'm embarrassed to let you know how much I learned and how many more questions I have after that one experience.

I had put the cancer experience behind me, never looking back, never dealing with the fear, just moving on. (Since 1999!!)

I've been darn lucky. You all spoke of so many things I simply didn't even know about.... but I needed to understand some of those things in order to live more fully.... and to be able to support others.

Thank you, Deb.

You're on a mission. I'm grateful to have finally stepped into your path. Please keep on keeping on. You mentioned you may be considering retirement. I'm hoping someone will pick up the reins. If and when you retire, I hope the phrase, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" echoes through all your days.

— Barb

After this weekend, I feel relaxed, refreshed and full of renewed determination to be a strong survivor. The other girls had great suggestions for easing symptoms my research had not found; I’m excited to go home and try these ideas out. I’ve made new friends this weekend and had a ton of fun. Had great conversations that you can only have with other survivors.

— Retreat Attendee

Thanks for all you do! I attended the Aug. 2018 retreat. It changed my life. I have never slowed down long enough to deal with cancer. I tried to be strong for everyone else in my family but didn’t really “feel” what beating cancer had given me, many gifts. Your retreat was one of them. Again, thank you.

—Retreat Attendee

Thank you Deb Hart for giving so much to all of us. You’ve inspired friendships, provided an escape for so many, and shown such love for all. I am so grateful to have had a day to distract from my worries regarding my cyst, and then to find out all was okay. Deb, I can’t say thank you enough!

— Retreat Attendee

This weekend was amazing, peaceful, joyful, exciting, relaxing and healing.

— Retreat Attendee

This past weekend had a huge impact on me. Like many, I was hesitant to go. I didn’t know anyone & I tend to be shy in large groups. Also, my negative experience online, when I was in treatment & looking for support, left a bad taste.

Oh, what a difference the weekend made! I felt privileged to meet all of you incredible women! Brave, strong, vulnerable & oh so beautiful! For a club (breast cancer) none of us ever wanted to be a part of a kinship that’s hard to describe.

For now & forever I will be a Pink Sista!

—Retreat Attendee

I had the privilege of attending a day retreat with the pink sista the other day. I'm 3 years out from my diagnosis and only one other time have I made the time to purposefully spend time with women who have gone through what I have experienced. My day with the pink sistas reminded me how therapeutic it is to surround myself with women who understand all the things about my diagnosis that no one else understands. All the emotions that accompany this journey and all the experiences. It was an honor to hear other women's stories, to laugh with them and cry with them. It was a beautiful day of relaxation. A slow boat ride, tasty and healthy food for lunch, kayaking around the marina. But the best part was getting to know the ladies I was there with, all of them have a story to tell and each one is precious. It was a day I look forward to repeating. I cannot thank Deb and her sidekick Diane for all the work they put in to make the day a success!

-Retreat Attendee