The 2026 Surviving & Thriving Cancer Retreat will be held September 18-20 at Summers Mill Retreat Center, 7441 FM
1123, Belton TX 76513. That’s a whole weekend of filling our Minds, Bodies, & Spirits and working on a Community Project.

2026 Retreat information coming soon

Food, some catered by Mc3 Catering in the Summers Mill dining hall,
some cooked by our great kitchen crew, and some provided by the Altrusa International Club of Temple – our lunch for the second year in a row. The UMHB youth group ASTRA gifted each survivor with a bag of sweets.

Friday evening we got to know each other, then in the beautiful chapel we honored those of our friends who have gone to the other side, closing with Kathleen Brown singing her song, “The Race.”

Part of our four keys, Body, Mind, Community & Spirit, were met Saturday morning with Addison Scott, of Rainey & Rainey Attorneys at Law talking about help for scams, and Renee Owen, founder of the retreats, sharing the story of her dream of a place for adult
cancer survivors to meet and learn from each other. In the afternoon survivors had the opportunity to hike around the beautiful grounds of Summers Mill, nap, or help with the Community project for local children served by the Killeen Police Department, McLane’s
Children’s Hospital, the Emergency Medical Services of Temple & Belton.

Saturday night survivors strutted their stuff in their 1920s costumes and the contest winner was Renee Owen. Then Jerry Layne Colwell & Kathleen Brown took everyone down memory lane with oldies but goodies and songs chosen by those listening.

Sunday morning closed us out with Dr Mike Middleton and Clayton Capps on accordion & tuba!

The 2025 Roaring 20's Was A Roaring Success!

2025 Retreat Speakers

Addison Scott

Addison Eubank Scott was born and raised in Central Texas, obtained a law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston and began working for Texas families as a law student at the Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinic in Houston, Texas. She then worked in a variety of practice areas, including family law, criminal law, real estate transactions, Municipal Utility Districts, and homeowner associations. She later aligned her vision with her passion and joined Rainey & Rainey, providing elder law counsel. Addison is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, is a certified mediator, and is also certified by the State Bar of Texas to work as an attorney ad litem in guardianship cases.

Addison is a graduate of Texas A&M University and proudly served as the President of the Aggie Law Students Association during law school. In her spare time, Addison enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and rescue dogs.

Renee Owens

I was diagnosed with cancer in 1992 after having a mammogram. I participated in many cancer survivor events, including Relay for Life and the Komen Race for the Cure, and was also honored by being named “hometown hero.” I became known as “the cancer lady.”

When I worked in Risk Management at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple TX I was moved to the Center for Cancer Prevention and Care. A prayer to help others came true. Soon after transferring, I started holding cancer retreats. I dedicated the retreat to God, and we have had wonderful weekends for twenty years. I thank God for my cancer because I would never have met all the wonderful people I now call friends.

Our Programs

Past Speakers, Projects, and Activities

Some of our past speakers: Docs in the box; Massages by Sandy Turpin; Music Therapy with Kathleen Brown; Lucas Wong, MD, Patsy Sulak, MD and Kathleen Haulka, MD -; psychologists; researchers; missionaries; Sunday devotionals; Thomas Fairlie; Dr Mike Middleton & Clayton Capps, Patti Snyder, Pam Taylor; Zoomba; the Magical Grandpa; Andre Avots-Avotins, MD.

Some of our community projects: Sewed and stuffed pillows for BSW McClinton Cancer Center in Waco; greeting card packets and stamps for veterans; collected stuffed animals for McLane Children’s Hospital, collected and packaged socks and toiletries for Salvation Army, shoes for Helping Hands Ministry; collected and filled backpacks for Foster Love; gave toy towers to Headstart.

Past activities: costume/Style Show contests on themes; some of the themes – Texas Ties Us Together (2012), It is Sweet to Be a Survivor (2016,) Victory over Cancer (2018,) New Beginnings (2019,) Cancer Doesn’t Slumber (2020,) Sharing the Love, Sharing the Bond (2021) Light a Candle and Remember 2022, We Can Can Cancer (2023,) The Magic of Miracles (2024.) karaoke night; skits; icebreakers; personal story sharing.

Fundraisers: Caribbean cruises, gift baskets, bake sales, silent auction at retreat, raffles, the Roaring 20th Concert held at Temple Civic Theatre

Every year we hold a touching memorial service for those members who have passed away. We memorialize them in photos with music in a slide show, ending with Kathleen Brown singing “The Race,” a song written for her when she was fighting her cancers.

Thanks to our sponsors this year!!

THANKS TO:
Temple Civic Theatre; Texas Roadhouse; Summers Mill Retreat & Conference Center; Sheryl Sofge and Gentiva Hospice; Heart of Texas Electric Coop; The American Legion, Post 133; Altrusa International of Temple TX; Clayton Bell; Milano Wood Products; Precious Memories; Linda McVehil; Jackie Wernli; Surviving & Thriving Board Members; Ernie Lopez; Jerry Layne Colwell; Monty Suffern; Jeff & Sarah Davison; Lisle Meeker; Dr Mike Middleton & Clayton Capps; Ann Harder & the Rogue Media Network; KWTX TV; and last but not least KNCT Sunday Gathering with Bill Hecke & Rick Smith.

Gift Basket Donors: Flooring Warehouse; Oran Contractors; A Plus Landscaping; Spectrum Mobile; Rapid Recovery Towing; TPI Construction; H.E.B. Adams Grocer; Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant; Wings Pizza & Things; Salon Karen; The Book Cellar; and Texell Bank