Why We Created a Cancer Retreat for Women: Kim’s Story | Survivors & Thrivers
We recently sat down with our dear friend, Kim, to talk about her experiences with FreeFly retreats, what they have meant to her after cancer treatment, and why the Survivors & Thrivers Retreat matters so much to her.
Kim has been a frequent flyer on our FreeFly Counseling and Wellness retreats. We were completely new to the retreat world when we hosted our very first wellness retreat, and Kim was one of the women who helped shape what FreeFly retreats would become.
She reached out to us after cancer treatment, looking for some peace. That first retreat was a success and set a precedent for all the retreats that followed. Little did we know that, as God was moving on several of the retreats Kim attended, a much bigger story was being woven that would eventually lead us here:
Rest, Reset, Reengage: Survivors & Thrivers Edition | October 1 - 4, 2026 | Outer Banks, NC.
This retreat was actually Kim's idea. So, naturally, we decided to get the scoop from her:
What brought you to a FreeFly women’s wellness retreat?
I was post cancer and post cancer treatment and I was really looking for something to just calm my soul. It was a whirlwind with treatment and doctor's appointments and keeping life as normal as possible, but I just had some inner anxiety that I wanted to calm.
What did you find most helpful about the retreat, both while you were there and after you came home?
Right, so I think what helps is just the peace, the inner peace I found just talking to other people about the stage of life I was in, as well as giving me some tools to calm myself when I wasn't calm. For instance, the meditation and the contemplative prayer and some art therapy [have] carried me through the last number of years. [I use these] tools absolutely every day in some way shape or form.
The Survivors & Thrivers Retreat was actually an idea you brought to us. What inspired you to ask us to create a cancer retreat for women?
Yeah, I can remember being at one of your retreats and this had been at the back of my mind for a while and the retreat just brought it to the forefront. I just kept hearing what I'm sure was God's voice saying, talk to Alana and Lauren about this. And [this retreat] really is the space for where women are with their journey - because all along the journey and even post journey you sort of have this feeling of “what next?” I think you guys have done a good job in your retreats of creating a space for women in all walks of life and you meet them where they are. I felt like post-cancer or during treatment or post treatment you could even touch women in that space as well.
Why is connection and community so important for women going through or recovering from cancer?
So I think women may not [actually be] alone when they're on the journey, but certainly there are times in the journey that I know people feel alone. And it doesn't necessarily make sense because logically you know there are others going through it. This might be a place in this retreat where women can connect and know they're not alone.
So I think the community that's created is nothing I've ever experienced before, because women are coming from all areas of the country. You've never met them. You're probably never going to see them again, but you bond so quickly, and it gives women the opportunity to really bare their hearts because it's such a safe space. And that is the community that I want for women who are going through a cancer journey.
How have FreeFly retreats and the Christian community at these retreats impacted your relationship with God?
It's very evident from the moment you arrive that God is there. There's no question. I think where I really connected is in the therapies we did, with the art therapy, and it was really a way for me to connect with the Holy Spirit that I really had never done before. And that to me is one of my biggest takeaways from these retreats. It's definitely strengthened my faith. It's definitely strengthened my relationship with God.
What do you want women to know about attending a FreeFly women’s retreat?
So one thing typically women have not been good about is resting. So one of my favorite things about the retreat is you actually rest and regroup and recharge. I feel so ready to go after spending three days with FreeFly.
Also, I love the food at these retreats because one, I'm not cooking it! And two, the cooks are amazing! 😉
Why is financial support important for women who want to attend a cancer retreat?
We are fundraising for the Survivors and Thrivers Retreat for women who have gone through and are dealing with any type of cancer. This is for soul care and connection with other women dealing with the same problem and issue.
Why does funding and sponsoring the Survivors & Thrivers Retreat matter?
Fundraising for the Survivors and Thrivers event is so important because when you're going through the treatment you're not thinking anything about yourself personally. You're thinking about paying for treatment. You're thinking about traveling costs. You're thinking about out-of-pocket expenses. You're thinking about your children and childcare. So, if we can fund this privately for these women to attend it will be such a blessing for them.
This Is Why the Survivors & Thrivers Retreat Matters
Kim’s story is a big part of why we felt called to create this retreat.
Cancer changes so much. There is the diagnosis, the treatment, the appointments, the decisions, the financial stress and the very real work of simply getting through it. And then, at some point, you look up and find yourself asking the question Kim described so well:
What next?
The Survivors & Thrivers Retreat was created for that space.
Whether you are currently in treatment, recently finished treatment, or years out from your diagnosis, you deserve a place to rest, reconnect, breathe a little deeper and be surrounded by women who understand that the cancer journey doesn't necessarily end when treatment does.
Are you a survivor or thriver?
If you have been looking for a place to step away from the noise, connect with other women, nurture your faith and take care of your whole self, we would love to have you join us.
Rest, Reset, Reengage: Survivors & Thrivers Edition takes place October 1–4, 2026, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Want to help another woman get there?
We also know that the women who could benefit most from this experience may be the same women who have spent years dealing with medical bills, treatment costs, travel, missed work, childcare and all the other financial burdens that come with cancer.
That's why we are raising funds to provide scholarships for women who otherwise may not be able to attend.
A donation or sponsorship doesn't just help cover the cost of a retreat. It gives a woman permission to stop for a few days and care for herself, surrounded by women who understand.
If you would like to help make this retreat possible for another woman, you can sponsor a participant or make a donation.
We believe every woman deserves a chance to rest, reset and reengage—and sometimes, having someone help make that possible is the first step.
