Hope Lodge Hawaii needs help

LIHUE — In an effort to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the building of Hope Lodge Hawaii, which will provide free lodging and support for cancer patients traveling from the neighbor islands to Oahu for treatment, Jim Schuler has issued a challenge.

Schuler, who is already a major donor to the campaign, will contribute an additional $200,000 toward the goal of $11.9 million, if the community raises $200,000 in the next 60 days.

“Honolulu absolutely needs this facility,” remarks Jim Schuler, co-chair of the Hope Lodge campaign. “It is called Hope Lodge for a reason, it gives a renewed sense of hope to neighbor island cancer patients whose best option for cancer treatments are located on Oahu.”

Thanks to generous donors, the Society is now within 96 percent of raising the $11.9 million needed to build Hope Lodge Hawaii and sustain its operations for two years.

Neighbor island cancer patients are skipping lifesaving cancer treatment and check-up appointments due to a lack of affordable temporary housing in Honolulu, according to a press release. Hope Lodge will improve the quality of life of cancer patients and their families by directly combating the financial burden of the disease and offering unprecedented access to quality care.

Each year, Hope Lodge Hawaii will offer 7,300 free housing nights to an estimated 487 patients traveling to Honolulu’s health care facilities to receive the most effective treatment. Cancer patients will save an estimated $1.3 million annually in hotel expenses.

Construction for the American Cancer Society’s Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge Hawaii, began in September. It will be a 20-room facility, including private guest rooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities, a dining room, a library, and a garden. The Society plans to open its doors to patients in November.

Info: (800) 227-2345 or visit www.hopelodgehawaii.org.