The Gift of Hope

The Gift – of –

Hope

Many cancer patients face weeks or months of treatment away from home. At the same time, they often struggle to manage medical bills and other financial burdens associated with the cost of travel. Some patients even forgo treatment due to the financial and emotional burden. In fact, 50% of cancer-related deaths could be avoided if more people had access to the lifesaving treatment they need.

Hope Lodges alleviate this burden by offering a free place to stay during treatment, providing a supportive, nurturing environment that allows patients to focus on one thing: getting well. Opening in Fall 2017, the Richard M. Schulze Hope Lodge will seek to serve patients and their caregivers when their best hope for treatment is in Jacksonville. The 32 planned patient suites and shared amenities will include a kitchen, dining room, living room, library, activity room, and laundry facilities, and will provide more than 12,000 nights of free lodging each year.

Currently, there are 32 Hope Lodges in operation, located strategically across the country near major hospitals and treatment centers. It’s just one of the ways American Cancer Society continues to make major strides in improving quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers, diminishing patient suffering, and increasing survival rates.

Your help is needed. The American Cancer Society must raise a remaining $5 million to reach its goal of $19.2 million to build and fund the operation of the Hope Lodge in Jacksonville. Their lead organizations, foundations, and individuals have already generously contributed over $14 million to-date combined, but the Society still needs additional funds. Since many Golden Isles residents receive cancer treatment in Jacksonville, Hope Lodge is a facility that can benefit our community.

To make a donation online, please visit cancer. org/hopelodgejacksonville and click on the “Donate to this Hope Lodge” button. Credit cards accepted include: American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. If you prefer to mail your gift, please send to: American Cancer Society, Attn: Hope Lodge, 1430 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Checks should be made out to the American Cancer Society with a memo or accompanying letter stating that the gift is for Hope Lodge Jacksonville. Help keep Hope alive.