James Hamilton with Dr. Holly and Mike Hamilton. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

To the untrained eye, something was amiss in Sebastian recently as costumed teams of men and women flitted about town during the 12th annual Hunt for Hope Florida event to benefit the all-volunteer IBC Foundation. Dr. Holly Hamilton, owner of Riverside Family Dental, has organized the local Hunt for Hope fundraiser for the past 12 years.

The IBC Foundation provides funding for high-quality clinical research and treatments for IBC, Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It’s a particularly dangerous form of breast cancer that typically occurs in younger women. As IBC doesn’t present with a lump and isn’t detected through mammograms, it is frequently missed or misdiagnosed until Stage Four.

Participants met at the Riverview Park pavilion before heading out on the scavenger hunt, aiming to raise funds for research and a greater awareness of this rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Teams performed a laundry list of tasks, such as placing little rubber ducks on Jeep hoods, singing songs and taking photos as they performed assorted silly tasks. The scavengers also dug up ‘Hope’ rocks at local businesses sponsoring the event.

Upon their return to Riverview Park, the teams participated in field games and a Scrabble challenge while organizers tallied their scores to determine this year’s winner. Among the competitors were teams dubbed Sally’s Scavengers and Dee’s Bees. That particular beehive was so large that they had to split up into three teams – the Wannabees, the Honeybees and the Fuzzybees.

Hamilton said she first became aware of IBC through her friend, Dr. Lori Grennan, a physician who created the first Hunt for Hope in Ohio and who later succumbed to the disease. Hamilton founded Hunt for Hope Florida in her honor.

Additionally, a former local resident who died from IBC at age 24 prompted the naming of the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In an ironic turn of fate, Hamilton was diagnosed with Triple-Negative breast cancer several years ago and found solace in the community of support she had built through Hunt for Hope.

“It was actually really helpful having been a part of it, because I had a lot of resources available,” noted Hamilton. “This is my fifth year in remission, and the research is ever more important.”

Hamilton explained that IBC and Triple-Negative breast cancer are similar in that they both tend to grow and spread quickly. Additionally, she said, they have similar treatment modalities.

“There are a lot of cross-benefits in the research for IBC with Triple-Negative. The awareness and the research can benefit all of us,” she added.

Hamilton’s tireless efforts have earned her the support of the Sebastian River High School, which recently recognized her as its Community Champion during their annual Pink Out football game.

The IBC Network Foundation, formed in the United States in 2011, has since expanded into the United Kingdom and Australia and has donated some $2 million toward inflammatory breast cancer research.

For more information, visit TheIBCNetwork.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis