Now THIS is a cause worth supporting...

Hissy_Fitz
Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
in Ovarian Cancer #1
This time around, because it's still considered "high season" in New York City and the hotels in mid-town Manhattan were going for $400 a night (and since last January we have racked up thousands of dollars in hotel expenses during my many trips to NYC), my daughter and I stayed at The American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.

They have several of these hotel-type facilities around the country. People who have to travel long distances for treatment can stay there at no cost, regardless of income, assets, etc. All you need is a referral from your treatment center.

Our room was very large and had all the amenities of a nice hotel: WiFi, cable TV, huge closets, nice beds, etc. And it was super, super clean. Each floor has a "quiet room" with a mini-library, as well as a full kitchen and laundry facilities (even the detergent is free). There is 24 hour security at the entrance and the elevators to the guest rooms can only be accessed via your key card.

I loved doing the two 5K walks, last year and this, for another organization that I am no longer supporting (are you listening, NOCC?), but Cancer - even my own - is not just about me. I urge all of you to check and see if there is an ACS Hope Lodge near you and give them a call, especially if you have skills or talents that could benefit the other patients. Can you play the piano? Offer Yoga or massage therapy? Although various groups provide a meal here and there, or a group "thing", they still have lots of empty calendar space for those kinds of things.

Carlene

Comments

  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #2
    thats great Carlene
    thanks for the info, maybe I can ehlp in some way. I recommedn Face In the Mirror, it is based in Scottsdale amd they are such wonderful women, they become like a second family.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #3
    HOW WONDERFUL!
    This is truly a blessing for so many women, I'm sure. I would imaging they continue to function via donations? Thanks for letting us know, Carlene.

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #4
    mopar said:

    HOW WONDERFUL!
    This is truly a blessing for so many women, I'm sure. I would imaging they continue to function via donations? Thanks for letting us know, Carlene.

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika

    I think the entire ACS
    I think the entire ACS functions on donations. I think they get less now, though, because every type of cancer has its own color now and so many splinter groups have popped up to support particular types of cancer. Not all of them, I am beginning to suspect, has the most altruistic of intentions.

    A relatively small organization that takes in a ton of cash, pays out huge salaries, then relies almost exclusively on local volunteers to do the grunt work (are you listening, NOCC?) is not the best fit, for me. I want my money and my time to go toward making life better for people going thru treatment, and toward research. We need a mammogram for ovarian cancer - an early detection tool. I don't care what Dr Oz says, "listening" to your body is not enough. OC does not have early symptoms, in most cases, and that is never going to change. Oh, and a vaccine that works would be nice, too, just in case God reads internet message boards. Please.

    Carlene
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #5
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    I think the entire ACS
    I think the entire ACS functions on donations. I think they get less now, though, because every type of cancer has its own color now and so many splinter groups have popped up to support particular types of cancer. Not all of them, I am beginning to suspect, has the most altruistic of intentions.

    A relatively small organization that takes in a ton of cash, pays out huge salaries, then relies almost exclusively on local volunteers to do the grunt work (are you listening, NOCC?) is not the best fit, for me. I want my money and my time to go toward making life better for people going thru treatment, and toward research. We need a mammogram for ovarian cancer - an early detection tool. I don't care what Dr Oz says, "listening" to your body is not enough. OC does not have early symptoms, in most cases, and that is never going to change. Oh, and a vaccine that works would be nice, too, just in case God reads internet message boards. Please.

    Carlene

    I agree with Carlene
    You are right, Carlene, we need a way to find OVCA before it even starts to "whisper." By the time there are symptoms, ANY symptoms, the disease is almost always already advanced to stage III or IV.

    I'm waiting for the shrew venom guy (Dr. Jack Stewart) to develop the screening test for ovarian cancer...hopefully, in my lifetime.
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #6
    Yep, I love ACS!
    They get all my donations!
    Mary
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #7
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    I think the entire ACS
    I think the entire ACS functions on donations. I think they get less now, though, because every type of cancer has its own color now and so many splinter groups have popped up to support particular types of cancer. Not all of them, I am beginning to suspect, has the most altruistic of intentions.

    A relatively small organization that takes in a ton of cash, pays out huge salaries, then relies almost exclusively on local volunteers to do the grunt work (are you listening, NOCC?) is not the best fit, for me. I want my money and my time to go toward making life better for people going thru treatment, and toward research. We need a mammogram for ovarian cancer - an early detection tool. I don't care what Dr Oz says, "listening" to your body is not enough. OC does not have early symptoms, in most cases, and that is never going to change. Oh, and a vaccine that works would be nice, too, just in case God reads internet message boards. Please.

    Carlene

    Carlene
    I love your post, you always have something interesting to say.
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #8
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    I think the entire ACS
    I think the entire ACS functions on donations. I think they get less now, though, because every type of cancer has its own color now and so many splinter groups have popped up to support particular types of cancer. Not all of them, I am beginning to suspect, has the most altruistic of intentions.

    A relatively small organization that takes in a ton of cash, pays out huge salaries, then relies almost exclusively on local volunteers to do the grunt work (are you listening, NOCC?) is not the best fit, for me. I want my money and my time to go toward making life better for people going thru treatment, and toward research. We need a mammogram for ovarian cancer - an early detection tool. I don't care what Dr Oz says, "listening" to your body is not enough. OC does not have early symptoms, in most cases, and that is never going to change. Oh, and a vaccine that works would be nice, too, just in case God reads internet message boards. Please.

    Carlene

    Right on
    Without the ACS volunteer drivers, I would not get to my chemos. Without the ACS website, I would not have the support I have here. Without ACS I would have not even considered a wig or learned how to maintain it. Without ACS..... They do a lot.

    Cancer is so vast and varried. :( Praying for a better future concerning cancer.

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