In the Pink Builds On Its Near $10 Million Push Against Cancer In The Woodlands With a Dentist’s Powerful Story Of Survival

The 26th annual In the Pink of Health luncheon did not just shatter fundraising records in support of breast and ovarian cancer awareness and survivorship programs in The Woodlands. The event also heralded the 10th year anniversary of the Canopy’s Cancer Survivorship Center, located on the campus of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center.

“Today, I’m happy to celebrate and give honor to Canopy’s 10th anniversary, and most importantly, the 80,000-plus lives that have walked through its doors,” Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast CEO Justin Kendrick says. “In these past 26 years, the In the Pink committee has raised over $9.7 million dollars in support of this mission.”

In the Pink co-chairs Nicole Preston and Jamie Bolt feel the impact of Canopy in their community.

“Canopy has been a caring community of hope, healing and empowerment for individuals affected by cancer, and for the people who love and support them,” Preston says. “Canopy is the crown jewel of the many programs and services funded through your donations to In the Pink of Health over the past 26 years.”

Memorial Hermann’s Ann Neeson, the executive vice president and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Foundation, reminded everyone that a cancer diagnosis impacts more than a patient.

“In a single moment, a diagnosis can turn a family’s life upside down,” Neeson says. “It affects spouses, kids, children, parents, friends, siblings and your entire support system, like coworkers. We diagnose and treat more cancer patients than any other health system in this region. And we’re proud that it is truly world class care that we provide.

“For the past 10 years, Canopy at Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands has been the place for people who are impacted by this curable disease, it’s been a place where they can find strength, support and connection. It’s available free of charge to everyone who needs it. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of your philanthropy.”

A Real Cancer Story

Hearing the statistics and the accomplishments doesn’t drive the reality home like an actual cancer story can. Woodlands dentist Dr. Stephanie Parke Mason — a two-time cancer survivor — gripped the crowd with her battle against ovarian cancer.

“Being up here today is good news, bad news for me,” Parke Mason says. “Bad news because, after 12 years of being in remission, my cancer came back. But the good news is I’m still alive and I’m still standing. And that is truly something to celebrate.”

Keynote guest speaker Shayla Rivera spoke about her journey from Puerto Rico to NASA to Texas A&M University. Rivera is a breast cancer survivor herself. When she toured Canopy, she came away deeply moved.

“I felt that at Canopy when I toured it yesterday, the love, the generosity. I’m going to tell you the word for Canopy is dignity,” Rivera says. “Cancer takes your dignity away.”

Efforts like In the Pink help bring it back.

Funds raised from In the Pink will be distributed in January to provide free mammograms, wigs and prostheses, fund breakthrough technologies and continue life-changing programs for patients and survivors across Montgomery County through Canopy. Funds raised from the 2025 luncheon and Pink Pals efforts put more than $600,000 to work in the community. Recipients included Canopy, Interfaith’s Community Clinic, Ovarcome, The Rose and The Melissa Preston Breast Care Center.

It takes a village of fighters to turn back an insidious disease like cancer.