"A home away from home…"

For more than 20 years, the Hope Lodge project has provided hospitality to cancer patients and their families during treatment and is a tangible representation of the American Cancer Society’s mission statement. There are currently 26 Hope Lodges in existence across the country. They each provide free lodging to eligible adult patients who are receiving active outpatient cancer treatment and who must travel away from home during this period of treatment.

In 1988, the Pennsylvania Division opened its first Hope Lodge in Hershey. Since then it has served over 20,000 guests. Hope Lodge offers a warm, caring environment that is supportive of the special needs of those who stay there. Each patient room consists of a sleeping area and a half bath. Patients are encouraged to have a family member or friend accompany them during their stay. While at Hope Lodge, patients are encouraged to share stories and make new friends. They eat together in a friendly kitchen environment and spend time together in the central family room. This "home away from home" atmosphere was one of the initial considerations behind the Hope Lodge conception and is definitely felt at the Hope Lodge in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

For patients between consecutive appointments and treatments who do not need overnight accommodations, there is always a pot of coffee on in the kitchen and a living room area for resting.

Philadelphia Prepares for New Hope Lodge

Over the past two years, there have been significant steps made to bring a Hope Lodge to the Southeast Region of Pennsylvania. Once the Pennsylvania Division Board of Directors approved efforts to establish a Hope Lodge in Philadelphia, an exhaustive search by a volunteer site selection committee helped locate a prime location; a section of property donated by Fox Chase Cancer Center. The site is part of a 14-acre section of land located adjacent to the Center and is ideally situated within the Greater Philadelphia area.

The next step in making the new Hope Lodge a reality includes a capital campaign. The capital campaign committee is seeking approximately $10 million to build the facility.

The new AstraZeneca Hope Lodge will be 30,000 square feet in size and will be able to accommodate guests in 37 private rooms. "The property donated by Fox Chase will provide a perfectly serene setting for Hope Lodge," stated Pennsylvania Division CEO Garry Pincock. "We truly appreciate their contribution to making a Hope Lodge in Philadelphia a reality. There is a tremendous need for hospitality in the Philadelphia area for cancer patients and their families. Not only does Hope Lodge fulfill this need by providing access to world class cancer treatment, it truly represents a legacy of the work of the American Cancer Society that will stand for years to come."

If you are interested in finding out more about the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, please contact the American Cancer Society at 215.985.5401 or visit www.cancer.org/hopelodgephiladelphia.

For general information about Hope Lodge, you can call the American Cancer Society's toll free number 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1.800.ACS.2345.