Kin Center Benefits From Weekend Block Party In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN — As Jeanine Transue looked out over the crowd on State Street Friday night, she glanced upward toward the heavens.

“Corinne is looking down on us right now,” she said of her daughter, Corinne Sikora, the late mother of two who inspired the creation of the Kin Center, the beneficiary of Friday evening’s fundraising block party.

From Main Street to Pine Street, the block party brought out the crowds, all there for one reason - to support the Kin Center in Buckingham Township.

Volunteers with Kin, including Corinne’s mom, spent a busy evening selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of more than 10 gift baskets donated by the merchants on the street with proceeds supporting the Kin Center.

“Her smile would be out to here,” said Transue when asked what her daughter might have thought about the block party and the Kin Center.

Before Corinne died from brain cancer in 2020, she had a wish for one comprehensive place for those in the cancer community to find emotional and physical support. She envisioned a warm, welcoming, communal wellness and support center as a retreat for people at all stages of their cancer journey.

Six days before she passed, she asked a friend to talk to the organizers of Pine2Pink, Keith and Kristina Fenimore, to see if they could make her dream a reality.

Within 10 months, the Fenimore’s had built and opened Kin Wellness and Support Center. Kin currently supports more than 150 local cancer patients and has 39 practitioners and instructors donating their time and providing services to both cancer patients and caregivers at no charge. Their mantra is, “By the community, for the community.”

Among the main sponsors of Friday evening’s block party was Evolution Candy and owners James and Tracy Lamb, who spent a busy evening scooping ice cream and making cotton candy for young and old.

“Anything Keith touches turns to gold and we have been lucky enough to be a part of his projects since we’ve been here,” said Tracy. “When Pine2Pink started it was the same year Evolution Candy started. We’ve grown together. We have learned from each other. And I feel like we have supported each other forever. And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Fenimore thanked Lamb for her kind words, giving credit for a successful night to a partnership between Kin and the business community.

“These guys rallied the entire street to get on board and we’re changing lives because of it,” said Fenimore. “It comes down to cotton candy and whatever else we’re doing, but the end result is that we’re improving someone’s life.”

Stopping by to show her support was Doylestown Borough Mayor Noni West, who was happy to see the large turnout in support of Kin. She recently recognized the Fenimore’s by presenting them with a proclamation at a recent borough council meeting.

“This is wonderful,” said Mayor West. “There are a lot of people here. There’s plenty for them to do, but also contribute to the mission and to donate to Kin. It’s great to see people out for a very good cause. This is what Doylestown is about.”

Everyone taking part in the block party Friday evening had a connection to Kin, from Sun Dog Yoga, which created a yoga program for the center, to Dr. Levi Koral, who donates his time every fourth Thursday to provide acupuncture treatments to Kin patients.

“When you look at Kin, its success starts and stops with people like this,” said Fenimore. “He doesn’t have to do it, but he does.”

Dr. Koral spent a busy evening offering postural alignments using tuning forks and acupuncture in exchange for donations to Kin.

“Kin is a pretty amazing place,” said Dr. Koral. “They put together a really incredible, really well designed center that’s making a different in people’s lives.”

Also participating in the block party was Mike Sobczak, owner and head coach with Training For Warriors. He brought weights with him and was raising funds for Kin by lifting weights and challenging others to do the same in exchange for a donation to Kin.

Fenimore was justifiably proud as he looked up and down State Street to see people enjoying themselves while raising money for Kin at Friday evening’s block party.

“Tonight is perfect. To be able to come out here tonight and encourage people to shop local and eat local and drink local and while doing that benefit local cancer patients, that’s the magic sauce,” said Fenimore. “I’m especially proud of having a block party like this and involving everyone from the community.”