This week, the community of Fargo came together in philanthropy to advance cancer care across the region and to bring a once-in-a-generation project closer to the finish line.
Roger Maris All-Star Week events, including the Roger Maris Gala, held on Wednesday, June 18, raised over $2 million in support of patients and families at the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center and to accelerate progress on the Peltier Lodge, a new patient lodging facility.
“Today, more patients than ever before are turning to the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center for lifesaving care, including leading-edge treatments and therapies offered through the state’s only blood and bone marrow transplant program,” said Tiffany Lawrence, president and CEO of Sanford Health, Fargo. “As more patients turn to us, the needs increase. Today, nearly half of our patients travel more than 60 miles to receive care. Treatment, outpatient care and lodging concerns only add to the existing burden of our patients who are far from home. We are incredibly grateful to our community for helping us bring the Peltier Lodge to life. This facility will help ease these significant burdens for our patients and their families.”
A Home Away from Home
The Peltier Lodge will serve as a safe haven for cancer patients and their families during their treatment, outpatient care and monitoring.
This priority project, made possible thanks to a lead gift from local philanthropist Norma Peltier, will help alleviate the physical and emotional burden cancer places on patients and loved ones. This state-of-the-art home-like retreat is more than a facility — it’s a movement to surround cancer patients with all the good they need, every step of the way.
A Once-in-a-Generation Project
Prior to the Roger Maris Gala, community members, donors, Roger Maris caregivers and staff, and Sanford Health leadership gathered to break ground on the Peltier Lodge. Located near the Roger Maris campus on the site of the former Scandia Hotel, the 28,400-square-foot Peltier Lodge will feature private spaces for patients and their families, common areas for gathering and much more.
Dave’s Story
Dave Thompson is a Roger Maris Cancer Center patient from Battle Lake, Minnesota. When he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, Dave and Bev, his wife, drove over 160 miles each day for three months for treatment. And when it came time for his bone marrow transplant, Dave and his family stayed in Fargo for total of 101 days throughout his recovery and outpatient care.
Dave believes wholeheartedly that having access to patient lodging close by would have been a major benefit to him and his family.
Give for Good
100% of your gift through the Sanford Health Foundation will accelerate our work on the Peltier Lodge. Together, we can bring hope and strength to cancer patients and their families.