“I would recommend anyone who is receiving cancer treatment to stay at that Hope Lodge. When I found out I had a rare type of cancer, I didn’t know what I would do as we have very little money. My doctor suggested I stay at the Hope Lodge. I said I would, but was a little hesitant not knowing anything about it. To my surprise I found it to be a very friendly atmosphere where everybody here has the same thing in common.” This comment came from a cancer patient who stayed at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Iowa City. Opened in 2008 the Hope Lodge offers a private room for the comfort of those under treatment for cancer. Fostering a home-like environment, the Hope Lodge is equipped with a community dining room, kitchen, family room, library, exercise area and laundry facilities. The Lodge also offers guests a wide variety of cancer programs and services free of charge that provide information, resources, and support to ease the cancer journey.

The Relay for Life of Tama County raises funds to support Hope Lodge as well as many other services of the American Cancer Society. On Saturday, June 14, at the South Tama H.S. track from noon to 10 p.m. the Relay for Life of Tama County will offer a fun community event for all ages. There will be lively music as folks walk the track, great food to eat, a Silent Auction, kids games, and more. More details will be coming soon. For information on this local event contact Ashley Bohlen, Tama/Toledo, 641-484-0204; Marilyn Svoboda, Clutier, 319-479-2732; Karen Symonds, Dysart, 319-476-7762; Luane Lorenzen, Traer, 319-231-0820 or Neal.Bohnet@cancer.org, the American Cancer Society partner for Tama County.

For 100 years the American Cancer Society has been a global leader in the fight against cancer. We save lives by helping people stay well, by encouraging them to take steps to prevent cancer or find it early, when it’s most treatable; helping people get well, by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of the cancer experience; by finding cures, by supporting the best ideas of the brightest cancer researchers, who with each discovery are getting us closer to a world with more birthdays; and by fighting back, by working with lawmakers everywhere to make this world a healthier place to live and rallying communities around the globe to join our fight. We know treating people with cancer and helping them get well is just as important a part of finishing the fight against the disease as researching to find cures. We are committed to making sure people facing cancer have the help they need, like a free place to stay during treatment through our Hope Lodge network.

Helping People Get Well Cancer treatment is a deeply personal and emotional experience. Hope Lodge facilities ease the emotional and financial burdens of cancer treatment, offering cancer patients and their caregivers a free, temporary place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be away from home. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows guests to focus on what’s important, getting well. Hope Lodge facilities provide a nurturing, home-like environment where guests can retreat to private rooms or connect with others. Every location also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer and how best to fight the disease. The American Cancer Society opened its first Hope Lodge facility in 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina, with the help of volunteer Margot Freudenberg, who saw the need to provide people going through cancer treatment a place to stay near their hospital. Today, there are 31 Hope Lodge facilities across the US, all located near a major cancer center, allowing cancer patients to choose the best care available to them not just the most convenient.