Pink roses sprinkled the the shore at 15th Street in Manhattan Beach this morning. With each crashing wave, a new cluster of floating petals were pushed ashore, where nearly 130 people congregated after a paddle out to celebrate the life of Karen Beebe, who passed away from breast cancer last Monday evening.
Just minutes before, family and friends of the beloved mother, friend, and gym director for American Martyrs in Manhattan Beach, rushed the water to paddle past the break, where a flowered lei was sent out to sea as part of the ceremony.
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“The support that my family and I have received in the past weeks has been overwhelming,” said Brett Beebe, a college student who plays hockey at Western Michigan and who organized the paddle out in his mother’s honor. “Support has been coming from everywhere. Some of my college teammates even surprised me and flew out to be with me these past few days. It’s amazing how many people were touched by my mom’s strength.”
After initially being diagnosed in 2005, Karen Beebe underwent a mastectomy that removed her right breast and 23 lymph nodes, leaving her cancer-free until June 2010, when she discovered it had returned and metastasized to her liver. Never one to just throw in the towel, she continued to work at American Martyrs with the same beaming smile and humor she bared every day of her life.
“Her positivity throughout her battle made people realize that their bad days really aren’t that bad after all,” Brett said, smiling as he gazed at his mother’s friends preparing for the paddle out. “My mom’s attitude made me understand that there is no use in dwelling on the bad.”
Beebe was inspired by his mother’s vigor. He started the fundraising project, “Long Hair Don’t Care”, which has raised over $20,000 since its inception in 2010.
“Our mission with Long Hair Don’t Care is to raise money for breast cancer research so that some day there will be a cure for a cancer that affects almost 1 in 12 women,” Beebe said.
Karen Beebe’s memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow at O’Donnell Hall at American Martyrs Church,1624 15th St., Manhattan Beach. For more information about Karen Beebe’s ‘Long Hair Don’t Care’ foundation visit www.crowdrise.com/longhairdontcare
