Imagine you’ve just heard the words “you have cancer.” Then you were told your best option for treatment is far from home. This is the reality for many in Hawai‘i. Each year, hundreds of cancer patients travel from the Neighbor Islands and Guam to receive treatment at Honolulu hospitals and clinics. Patients can spend days, weeks and even months away from home. The emotional and financial toll of lost income, medical bills, hotel rooms, rental cars and dining out can be staggering. But hope is on the horizon.

Generations Magazine - AmericanCancer_image1

An architectural drawing of The Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Construction is underway on the American Cancer Society home away from home for cancer patients — the Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge. This three-story building located at 251 Vineyard St. in the Capitol District of Honolulu will provide cancer patients with peace of mind for decades.

Hope Lodge will offer free, temporary lodging for adult patients and their caregivers. The facility will include 20 private guest suites, a library, shared living room, kitchen and dining areas, a laundry room and an activity room. Hope Lodge not only will have the comforts of home, but also will serve as a unique gathering space where patients and caregivers may support each other emotionally, and learn from one another. A free shuttle will take patients to and from the city’s top healthcare facilities.

Once Hope Lodge opens around Thanksgiving, it will offer about 7,300 nights of free lodging to an estimated 487 patients annually, saving families approximately $1.3 million in hotel expenses.

Local organizations, foundations and companies have provided legacy gifts to “build hope a home” and sustain lodge operations. Five years ago, the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced a capital campaign to raise $11.9 million. The lead contributor, The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, provided a $3.5 million grant; The Queen’s Medical Center generously donated the land so the facility could be located near leading cancer treatment centers. To date, the Hope Lodge campaign has raised $11.1 million. ACS invites the community to help finish this vital project.

 


AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, INC.
2370 Nu‘uanu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96817
800-227-2345  |  www.tinyurl.com/ACS-Hawaii
For gifts, donations and Hope Lodge information, contact:

Cathy Alsup, CFRE, Director, Major Gift Campaigns
808-432-9136  |  808-595-7500  |  www.hopelodgehawaii.org