LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Travel to Hope, a Kentucky-based organization helping cancer patients travel for the life-sustaining care they need, is proud to announce it has funded more than 120 patient trips to treatment, a major milestone since launching in September 2022. In just six months, the organization has helped 36 patients in 14 states afford to travel for their care and expects its first patient to complete their cancer treatments this month.
“Too often, cancer patients must travel to get the medical treatment they need, forcing them to choose between providing for their families and receiving lifesaving treatment,” said Gretta Feldkamp, founder of Travel to Hope. “My husband passed away from a rare and aggressive cancer, and although we could travel for his care, we met many patients who had to make unthinkable sacrifices. Travel to Hope is changing that by funding one trip to treatment at a time.”
The National Cancer Data Base estimates that more than 250,000 Americans travel annually to receive care— and that number is growing as specialized expertise is found at larger cancer centers and there is a growing scarcity of oncology resources in rural communities. Travel to Hope works closely with partners to provide lodging, transportation and direct financial assistance for patients who need to travel for medical treatment.
“When facing a cancer diagnosis, the only thing a patient should have to worry about is beating cancer,” said Feldkamp. “Our work is already making a difference in the lives of those we serve, and we look forward to helping hundreds of more patients receive life-sustaining care in the future. With additional support from the community, we will be able to help fund the next 100 lifesaving trips and beyond.”
All proceeds donated to Travel to Hope go directly to help cancer patients afford medical travel costs and reach even more patients in need. To donate or find more information, please visit traveltohope.org.
