Photo credit: The New Orleans Advocate
Warning: We’ve got a feel-good post for you!
Earlier this summer, teen cancer survivors were invited on a retreat of a lifetime at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, Mississippi.
The event was organized by local high school students and Heart of Passion, a non-profit approaching the cancer battle with a “for teens from teens” approach, which cements the organization’s priority of creating a unique experience for the teen age group.
The Red Carpet Retreat New Orleans allowed a group of 20 teens from cancer centers in Texas and Mississippi to kick off their spectacular, uplifting weekend with a trip to the Audubon Aquarium for a special before-hours breakfast with the sharks.
As if that wasn’t cool enough, teens also attended a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquarium that thousands of other visits will never get to see.
Aquarium guides escorted the teens through the facility, allowing them to pet the animals and learn about feeding habits and the specialized care they receive at the aquarium.
Cancer is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can endure, let alone a teenager just coming into their own as an individual. This retreat lets them forget their troubles for a time and simply enjoy.
Since its founding in 2002, Heart of Passion has hosted ten Red Carpet Day retreats for teens with cancer in Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans, serving over 400 patients.
After completing my education in New Orleans and experiencing first-hand the positive approach people take to life here, I knew this would be the ideal base of operations for Heart of Passion moving forward. Our goal is to provide hope to teenagers with cancer. I can think of no better place for them to learn to feel comfortable in their own skin, forget their troubles and finally feel at home again.”
-Savannah Solomon, Founder of Heart of Passion
Kudos to Heart of Passion for everything they do and to Audubon Aquarium for hosting a wonderful kickoff event!