As Relay For Life volunteers we hear a lot about Hope Lodges and how they offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. However, in the San Francisco Bay Area our closest Hope Lodge is in Phoenix, AZ. But the American Cancer Society has partnered with Extended Stay America to offer the "Key of Hope" program us here to provide those in our area the accommodations they need.
Extended Stay America has started a video campaign called "Stay Stories," the first video focuses on lung cancer patient Candace Bennink from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who discusses her stay at an Extended Stay America in Houston, Texas, through the Hotel Keys of Hope program. Candace was diagnosed two years ago with a very rare lung cancer and was given eight months to live. She follows a strict diet and is grateful for the Extended Stay America kitchen and other amenities which allowed her to maintain her dietary requirements. While she is still undergoing targeted therapy, we are happy to report she is doing well.
The American Cancer Society and Extended Stay America developed the Hotel Keys of Hope program six-years ago to provide free or reduced-price lodging to give patients and their caregivers a home-away-from-home close to their nearest treatment facility. Through this program, patients in need are able to receive amenities that reduce the costs and burdens associated with living away from your home for an extended period of time, including fully equipped kitchens, free in-room Wi-Fi, on-site laundry facilities, and pet-friendly room options.
The “Stay Stories” series will share firsthand stories from the patients who are on the frontlines of the fight against cancer, and audiences across the nation will have an opportunity to hear stories of resilience as these patients reveal their personal journeys. To date, Extended Stay America has donated more than 130,000 hotel nights to cancer patients and their families, and have helped over 17,000 cancer patients and their families.
No comments:
Post a Comment