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Wings of Hope celebrates 10th anniversary

Butterfly release event raises roughly $15,000 for Cancer Support Community Delaware
Standing next to a human-sized butterfly, Cancer Support Community Delaware Executive Director Nicole Pickles thanks folks for attending the organization’s 10th annual Wings of Hope butterfly release Aug. 1. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
August 5, 2020

Story Location:
Tunnell Cancer Center
18947 John J Williams Highway
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Under clear skies and a slight breeze, Cancer Support Community Delaware hosted its 10th annual Wings of Hope event Aug. 1 on the lawn in front of the Tunnell Cancer Center in Lewes. Roughly 100 people attended the butterfly release, which had been postponed from early June due to COVID-19.

Cancer Support Community Delaware Executive Director Nicole Pickles said the past few months had been a challenge for the organization, but because of the adjusting to virtual programs more people had been reached than ever before. She said 3,300 people have participated in organization support groups this year, 700 of them in Sussex County.

Michelle Mallon, Cancer Support Community Delaware special event coordinator, said the past few months had only strengthened the resolve of the organization.

“We’re here for each other. No matter the circumstances. No matter the struggle,” she said.

In a follow-up email Aug. 2, Mallon said 140 live butterflies, 60 seeded butterflies and 75 butterfly masks were sold. She said the final figures are still being tallied, but estimated the event raised roughly $15,000.

For more information on Wings for Hope and Cancer Support Community Delaware, go to cancersupportdelaware.org.

Cancer recently took the life of Rehoboth Beach’s Rozi Diane Berberian. Her daughters Isabella, Grace, Gia and Lily participate in the butterfly release.
Butterflies in a basket are ready to be released.
Brandon Mallon attended the event with his daughters, who were clad in butterfly dresses and face masks. Three-year-old Mackenzie gets a ride on his shoulders, while 5-year-old Caroline stands next to him.
Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 has donated more than $10,000 over the years. Lodge President Sam Lesher and Vice President Joy Schreck get ready to release a basket of butterflies.
Bubble maker Richard Dutt said Dawn is the best soap to make bubbles as a colorful as butterfly wings.
Representing the Village Improvement Association, event volunteers Adrienne Stitzel, left, Carol Hall show of the 2020 T-shirt, designed by local artist Siobhan Duggan.
Char Coons looks over the Kindness Rocks.
Marcia Esposito gives Cathy Davies-Harmon her butterfly to release.
Reber Whitner does one of his beginner yoga poses at the beginning of the event.
Even the butterfly on the tree in the upper left corner participated in being socially distant.
A nice paperweight for the event.
As soon as the butterflies were release, they found their way to the butterfly bushes donated to the event by Sposato Landscape.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories, random stories on subjects he finds interesting and has a column called ‘Choppin’ Wood’ that runs every other week. Additionally, Chris moonlights as the company’s circulation manager, which primarily means fixing boxes during daylight hours that are jammed with coins, but sometimes means delivering papers in the middle of the night. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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