Stephanie Robin has never called herself a hero. Nevertheless, her strength is showing up in her children.
When Robin was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2004, she did not know how long she had to live. So she invested everything she could in the futures of Coby (now 11) and Skylar (9), infusing them with equal parts love and independence. “I needed to raise them and raise them fast, just in case,” says Robin, whose children were ages 4 and 2 at the time of her initial diagnosis. “No mother wants to admit this, but I know my kids can take care of themselves. Looking back, I am proud of the job I did.”
It’s not the only thing about which Robin has to be proud. This weekend marks the return of the Boca-based event that she inspired, one that celebrates life and the strength of other breast cancer survivors. Proceeds from the fourth annual Think Pink Rocks at Mizner Park Amphitheater—Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6:15 p.m.—will provide funding for screening, treatment and research toward the fight against breast cancer.
From its humble beginnings as a ho-hum fundraising luncheon, Think Pink—co-created by Robin’s friend, Elizabeth Weprin—has emerged as one of the area’s more unexpected must-see events of the year. Robin and Weprin hatched the idea for a concert to raise awareness, but they had no direct personal contacts and no background in staging such a project. So they reached out to the community. The Mizner Park Amphitheater staff offered to host the concert, and Steve Rifkin, Chairman of SRC Records, whose dad was affected by male breast cancer, solicited the talent. The mix of R&B and hip-hop, while hardly your typical Boca-based show, has meshed with the inspirational overtones to produce an unforgettable evening.
This year’s concert should be no exception. Terrence J will host, with returning performers Sean Kingston, Asher Roth, Melanie Fiona, Shontelle, Ray J, DJ Cassidy and Flo Rida. Newcomers this year are Iyaz, Mann, Jake Miller and Brett Loewenstern, the Boca high school student who reached the final 24 in last season’s “American Idol.” Other new elements to the concert include laser-light texting and a contest for local vocalists. By submitting a video of impressive pipes to ThinkPinkRocks.com, one talented winner will be selected to open for Flo Rida.
The concert is not just another gig for the artists, either. “Artists of this magnitude usually only perform at large arenas, but they [perform in Boca] because they know they are making a difference,” Robin says. “There definitely is a feeling that we are all a part of a special family.”
The communal atmosphere of Mizner Park is the perfect place to welcome survivors, families and young hip-hop enthusiasts. Having a space that brings people together is important to Robin because it coincides with her desire to open communication between the generations. Robin wants young people to talk to their grandparents while they can still learn about their own family’s health history.
While some people live paycheck to paycheck, Robin will tell you that she lives scan to scan. “Every three months is a huge reality check for me.” After her cancer metastasized to her lungs, Robin went to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. Since November 2008 she has been a part of an experimental treatment, and currently the tumors in her lungs have decreased by 90 percent.
So after enduring cancer, does planning a concert seem like a breeze? “Cancer or no cancer, [the concert] is still a lot of work,” Robin says with a laugh.
On the evening of the event, Robin plans to be speechless. “Every year I look around and I see Flo Rida on the stage performing, I see a packed house, and I’m still shocked to think, wow, this is all because of me.”
Think Pink Rocks
Date: Saturday, Nov. 5, 6:15-11:00 p.m.
Where: Count de Hoernle Amphitheater at Mizner Park
What: A hip-hop and R&B concert in an effort to raise awareness for genetic testing for breast cancer
Tickets: $45 for adults; $25 for children ages 4-10; Tickets are on sale online or (pending availability) at the amphitheater the day of the event.
Contact: 888/612-4190 or visit ThinkPinkRocks.com
Additional Info: Rain or Shine. If you cannot come to celebrate life at Think Pink Rocks, you can still support the cause by making any sized donation to the website.
