Anchored Mamas:
Moms of a Child with Special Needs
For the mama who keeps showing up — even when she's running on empty.
For the mama who keeps showing up, even when she is running on empty.
You leave home with a quiet nervousness, trusting your child's care to someone else, stepping into a place you have never been, surrounded by women you have never met. But somewhere inside you there is a tiny spark of hope that says go. And so you show up.
You arrive weary. Maybe a little guarded. Carrying the weight of a life that does not pause. The appointments, the advocacy, the unknowns, the grief that shows up even in the good moments.
Whether you are still waiting on a diagnosis, navigating a new normal, or making plans for your child's future, you know what it is to feel invisible. To feel like no one quite understands the road you are on.
This retreat was made for you.
For three days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you get to exhale. You get to be known. You get to rest your body, fuel your spirit, and remember that you are more than a caregiver. You are a woman with dreams, with strength, with a story worth telling.
You will leave with new friendships, resources that help, and a renewed energy to keep pressing on. You will leave having dreamed again.
This is a faith-based retreat presented by Lumina of Hope Foundation, a women's ministry dedicated to serving women in their most difficult seasons. This is our third Anchored Mamas retreat, and every year the women who almost did not come tell us it changed everything.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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All meals provided, fully gluten free and thoughtfully prepared
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Daily devotionals
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Guest speakers
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Gentle hiking and outdoor time
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A stunning luxury lodge nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains
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A large hot tub, fire pit, and s'mores under the stars
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A professional photo session on your last full day
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A private Facebook community to connect with fellow attendees and arrange carpooling before you arrive
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Shared accommodations (each attendee shares a bedroom with one other participant)
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Check-in: 6:00 PM on November 3rd
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Check-out: 9:00 AM on November 6th
HOW TO APPLY
We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Spots are offered on a first come, first reviewed basis, so do not wait to apply!
You will only be contacted once all spots are filled or if you are selected. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot.
Applications open September 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026.
Cancer Warriors
For the woman who is still showing up — even on the hardest days.
You are taking it one day at a time. Some days that is the only way through. You are carrying fears that most people around you cannot fully see. The fear of the unknown. The what-ifs. The weight of trying to stay strong for everyone else while quietly wondering who is holding you.
You are leaning on God. You are trying to stay positive. You are showing up for your family, for your appointments, for your treatment, and somehow still trying to show up for yourself. That takes a kind of strength that deserves to be seen.
This retreat was built for you, whether you are in the middle of your fight, on the other side of it, or somewhere in between.
For three days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will be surrounded by women who understand. Women who do not need you to explain it. Women who are walking or have walked in shoes just like yours. You will find connection, hope, and a spark of new strength to carry forward.
This is a faith-based retreat presented by Lumina of Hope Foundation, a women's ministry dedicated to serving women in their most difficult seasons. This is our very first Cancer Warriors retreat, and it will not be the last.
WHO THIS RETREAT IS FOR
This retreat is designed for women who have experienced breast cancer within the past five years and are currently in remission. Because we are not a medical facility and want every woman to be able to fully and safely enjoy every moment of the experience, we ask that participants not be actively receiving cancer treatment at the time of the retreat. We want to make sure this space is as restorative and joy-filled as possible for every woman who walks through the door.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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All meals provided, fully gluten free and as clean and organic as possible
-
Daily devotionals
-
Guest speakers
-
Gentle hiking and outdoor time
-
A stunning luxury lodge nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains
-
A large hot tub, fire pit, and s'mores under the stars
-
A professional photo session on your last full day
-
A private Facebook community to connect with fellow attendees and arrange carpooling before you arrive
-
Shared accommodations (each attendee shares a bedroom with one other participant)
-
Check-in: 6:00 PM on November 9th
-
Check-out: 9:00 AM on November 12th
HOW TO APPLY
We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Spots are offered on a first come, first reviewed basis, so do not wait to apply!
You will only be contacted once all spots are filled or if you are selected. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot.
Applications open September 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026.
FAQ SECTION
1 / Is there a cost to attend?
No. Both retreats are completely free to attend. The Lumina of Hope Foundation covers every meal, experience, and moment. If accepted, you pay nothing.
2 / How do I know which retreat is right for me?
The Anchored Mamas retreat is designed for moms of a child with special needs. The Cancer Warriors retreat is for women navigating a cancer journey — whether currently in treatment, in recovery, or beyond. If you're unsure, apply and let us help guide you.
3 / When do I check in and check out?
Check-in for both retreats is at 6:00 PM on the first evening. Checkout is at 9:00 AM on the final morning.
4 / What are the accommodations like?
Both retreats are held at a beautiful private luxury lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, just 15 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge. The lodge features 5 bedrooms, a large hot tub, a fire pit, a game room, and stunning mountain views. Each participant shares a bedroom with one other attendee.
5 / How will I get there?
All participants coordinate carpooling through the private retreat Facebook group once accepted. Lumina of Hope does not provide transportation.
6 / What is the private Facebook group?
Once accepted, every participant is added to a private Facebook group where retreat details are shared, attendees connect with one another before arriving, and carpooling is coordinated.
7 / When is the application deadline?
Applications open September 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026 for both retreats.
