'We take care of our own': Tybee Islanders rally around popular kiteboarder with cancer

Destini Ambus, Savannah Morning News
·4 min read

Karen Kelly, a 20-year resident of Tybee and owner of Beachview Inn and Spa, would absolutely describe Mack Kitchens as a local celebrity.

“Let me explain to you why,” Kelly said. “You know what Mack’s thinking whether you agree or disagree, he is passionate. When he has something on his mind, you know. Also, he’s a kiteboarder so we all just watch him kiteboard.”

Kitchens, 66, has made a name for himself on the small island. He ran two local government campaigns and is known for his beach safety advocacy, after he rescued one of two drowning swimmers in Tybee waters. He and others say the experience had a profound impact on him.

"It was a really traumatic period for him," said Julie Livingston, a close friend of his. "There's a lot of depth to him that people don't know if you only know him casually."

Mack Kitchens slices through the water during one of his daily kite surfing sessions on the south end of Tybee Island. Kitchens says he finds a lot of hope in kite surfing, even if it's just hope for the next session.
Mack Kitchens slices through the water during one of his daily kite surfing sessions on the south end of Tybee Island. Kitchens says he finds a lot of hope in kite surfing, even if it's just hope for the next session.

More: Mack Kitchens saved a drowning girl's life. Does that make him more electable on Tybee?

More: ’She just slipped down’: Tybee man who found drowning swimmers could only save one

Now Kitchens' neighbors and friends hope to come to his rescue after he was diagnosed in April with Stage 4 bladder and prostate cancer, which has spread to his lymph nodes.

Tybee is a small city, more like an HOA or a big neighborhood, Kitchens said. Everyone knows everyone in some way and that lends itself to what he calls the healing power of Tybee, something that if it was able to be bought and sold, the islanders would be able to live off the residuals.

“When something happens to one of us, no matter what you feel about those people, you rally around them,” he said. “We take care of our own. Because we live on such a small island, our community is bonded through each other and the ocean, and the [other] people that come here don’t understand.”

Kitchens said this healing power is what brought out hundreds of people to the American Legion for a benefit party on Saturday, Aug. 5 to help raise money for treatment and bills while he’s out of work. The event included a raffle, auctions, benefit T-shirts, barbecue, performances by live bands and more.

Kelly, who helped organize the event alongside other women in the community, said that she does a fundraiser every year to help out a fellow islander, but the one for Kitchens had the largest turnout by far.

“We were jam-packed from the time we opened at 4:30 p.m. all the way to 10 p.m. when we shut it down,” Kelly said.

Between the benefit and the GoFundMe campaign, Tybee community raised $50,000 to support him. Kitchens, prior to the event being held, committed whatever money he didn’t use to be donated to Tybee Wishes, a nonprofit to help other islanders. For sizable contributions, people could donate through Simple Hearted Ministries, another nonprofit, and get tax deductions.

Kitchens called the celebration one of living. The point of the fundraiser for him, more than obtaining money for things he needed and to help others, was to bring the community together, old residents and newcomers alike.

“I wanted to celebrate living − living on Tybee, living in a community where we celebrate what we have, and that is the people,” Kitchens said. “There are so many blessings coming from this. ... I’m not happy I have cancer, but the fact of the matter is, I’m not going to die.”

Mack Kitchens stands on the beach at Tybee Island after partaking in one of his favorite activities, kite surfing. Kitchens holds a special surf board given to him by the City of Tybee after his was lost while rescuing a drowning teenager in 2021.
Mack Kitchens stands on the beach at Tybee Island after partaking in one of his favorite activities, kite surfing. Kitchens holds a special surf board given to him by the City of Tybee after his was lost while rescuing a drowning teenager in 2021.

Throughout his journey, alongside the massive hugs and support that Kitchens received from Tybee islanders, he said he’s maintained a positive attitude through trusting in God.

“God is the only one that holds that card,” Kitchens said. "God is the only one in control, and so while I'm alive I want to celebrate living here on this island, with people I know and love and cherish."

For many things in his life, Kitchens relies on God’s guidance to lead him to a decision, including deciding whether to run for any local government positions this year, including for mayor.

Kitchens ran for local government positions twice. Once in 2019 for mayor, and once in 2021 for city council. He lost his bid for mayor by finishing last in a three-way race with 96 votes out of 1,500. In 2021, he ran for council.

Kitchens said he does not yet know if he will be running for a position this year, and that everyone else will know when he knows.

“If God calls on me to run, I reckon I will,” Kitchens said. “He’s kept me alive this long. Welcome to the greatest show on earth, Tybee politics."

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities for Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee residents fundraise for Mack Kitchens, diagnosed with cancer