Baltimore, MD – In a heartwarming moment at M&T Bank Stadium, Abby Cafiero, the inspiration behind Abby’s Carts of Courage, took center stage to ring the iconic bell as part of the Baltimore Ravens' CrucialCatch campaign.

Everything you need to know about Respite Retreats.

"Abby's Carts of Courage" to help support fellow cancer patients. The program donates Radio Flyer Wagons packed with comfort items to current pediatric cancer patients or to children who are up to one year post treatment. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Carroll County Times)

For Wendy Letow, the interruption of her nonprofit career to address family health challenges seems a distant memory.

When Wendy Letow was working as a massage therapist in 2003, one of her patients, Bill, told her that his wife, Jennifer, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Respite Retreats, a non-profit that provides the patients, families and caregivers impacted by cancer restorative one-day retreats, was awarded an $8,100 grant from Howard County Executive, Dr. Calvin Ball, as a part of county’s Innovation Fund created in 2019.

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Wendy Letow, the Founder and Executive Director of Respite Retreats, a nonprofit organization located in Columbia, MD. Respite Retreats was founded in June 2018 with the mission to “provide retreats of respite to cancer patients, their caregivers, and families, and encourage healthy living to all.”