WHO WE ARE
Mary’s Place by the Sea is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women with cancer mind, body and soul through wellness retreats and integrative services that build transformative connections at no cost to guests. We provide services that complement their medical treatment, including oncology massages, nutrition education, individual counseling, expressive writing, reflexology, Reiki, guided meditation, prayer, and yoga. Our integrative services provide our guests rest and support during this challenging time in their lives. They are empowered with knowledge that will aid them on their road to healing. Please note: Mary’s Place by the Sea is not a medical facility with medical staff or aides. OUR HISTORY
When Mary's Place by the Sea first opened its doors in 2009, two rooms were rented at a lovely bed and breakfast in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Michele Gannon, Founder, began reaching out to oncology offices and groups supporting women with cancer sharing their vision. The response was immediate...finally, a place for women with cancer to go and be surrounded by love and understanding. A place where cancer was a common denominator, but not the defining attribute. A place where taking a deep breath, sharing challenges and experiences and recognizing the needs of the whole person was the focal point. Over the course of the next year, more women with cancer wanted to stay than the accommodations would allow. In 2011, Mary's Place moved to a historic, four-bedroom home which needed minor renovations to accommodate up to four women overnight. After five years of welcoming women through those doors and many more on waiting lists, the decision to build a new home was an easy one. The demand for a respite was high as the co-founders learned about more and more women who were facing this life-altering disease. In June of 2016, Mary’s Place opened the doors to a new, custom-built, state of the art home just a block from the Ocean on Main Avenue in Ocean Grove. Up to 8 guests are now able stay overnight in a private room with a full bathroom. Guests with mobility issues can participate in all services available, thanks to an elevator carrying them to our upper floors. This is particularly significant for our guests who previously shared bathrooms and climbed many stairs to enter into our front door. In the new home, nutrition sessions are hands-on in a larger, teaching kitchen. Group workshops and sessions are now offered on a regular basis. Since its founding, Mary’s Place has welcomed over 17,000 women through our doors, and continues to be a safe haven for women with cancer. All services, accommodations and meals are offered at NO COST to the guests of Mary's Place by the Sea.
