Teen’s Mission to Share a Little Love with Cancer Patients

Holmdel High School senior Kathleen Antonakakis knows what it’s like to lose a loved one to cancer. Her grandfather passed away from lung cancer in 2014. When Kathleen was in eighth grade, as her grandfather battled the disease, she witnessed the effect of a care package that he received at his very first treatment, which had a positive impact on the way he faced his treatments and lived each day. Inspired, Kathleen went on to do a school project with the theme of “Making the World a Better Place,” not knowing at the time that it would someday help to launch a cause near and dear to her heart: doing work to assist cancer patients and provide them with care packages, expression journals, cards of encouragement, comfort items, and room décor to cheer them.

For that school project, she organized a basketball clinic for kids, requesting a “fee” of a donated comfort item for a cancer patient. Each child brought more than one item. Kathleen was delighted by the enthusiastic response from the clinic participants, as well as the support she received from her church congregation at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Holmdel, NJ after speaking to them about her cause. Ultimately, she collected more than 250 items to be donated to the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center in Toms River, NJ, where her grandfather had received treatment.

Since that time, she’s come to the aid of other cancer centers through fundraising and by founding a non-profit organization, Share a Little Love, in memory of three loved ones who were lost to cancer.  Visitors to her website (www.sharealittlelove.net) will find a memorial page, photos, and information about the medical facilities she supports, including the J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center, Mary’s Place by the Sea, Monmouth Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center, and the Sanford R. Nalitt Institute for Cancer and Blood-Related Diseases.

“I established this non-profit organization in honor of three strong men who fought courageous battles against cancer: my grandpa, my uncle, and my friend,” Kathleen explains, noting that, for those undergoing cancer treatments, “even the smallest of tokens can help them in fighting cancer every day.” Today, she also lends assistance to family members, friends, and others she learns about who are undergoing cancer treatment.

Last fall, Kathleen participated in the annual run/walkathon for Mary’s Place by the Sea, a beautiful respite home in Ocean Grove, NJ for women who are undergoing cancer treatment. With the support of her generous sponsors, she raised almost $1,500 to benefit the facility and the wonderful services it provides.

During the holiday season, Kathleen kept particularly busy as she shared more than a little love throughout the area. In the days just before Christmas, she brought cozy fleece throws to Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel and Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, to be given to cancer patients there. That same week, she made holiday expression journals and special pampering care packages for the women staying at Mary’s Place by the Sea. Due to COVID restrictions, the venue is operating remotely and offering virtual services, but she was able to deliver the items to the home of Cathy Russo, the in-house chef for Mary’s Place. Once the venue is open to overnight guests again, the gifts will be waiting in their rooms as a thoughtful welcome. And of course, since love is always in the air in the month of February, Kathleen will be putting together more packages for the cancer centers in time for Valentine’s Day.

On the Share a Little Love website, you will find a list of comfort items that the organization is collecting to bring smiles to the faces of cancer patients. They include small pillows, fleece throws, crossword puzzles, word search books, adult coloring books, lounge pants, slippers, cozy socks, hats, sour candies, lip balm, hand sanitizer, bath bombs, lotion, canvas bags, soothing music CDs, handheld fans, expression journals, and cards of encouragement. The gallery of images on the website illustrates the care and creativity that goes into assembling them to produce a wide range of beautiful and thoughtful gift packages throughout the year.

Passionate about her cause, Kathleen is always striving to expand her reach and create new initiatives to share a little love, hope, encouragement, and faith with as many patients as possible and she plans to continue her efforts as she heads into college and beyond.

For more information about Share a Little Love and ways you can help make the world a better place for cancer patients, visit www.sharealittlelove.net.