The Holleman family of West Fargo knows how difficult it is to navigate a cancer journey far from home.
Five years ago, Diane Holleman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an aggressive form of cancer that forms in plasma cells and impacts bone marrow.
She did her chemotherapy at the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo but when it came time for her stem cell transplant, timing was not on her side. It was mid-2021, and the blood and bone marrow transplant program at Roger Maris had not yet launched. That meant Diane and her husband, Al, would have to travel to Rochester, Minnesota — more than five hours away — for the procedure.
During her pre- and post-transplant care and monitoring, Diane and Al were forced to spend months away from their three children, their friends and family, and the comforts of home. The stress of it all was nearly unbearable.
In the years since then, life has stabilized. Diane continues to receive immunotherapy treatments at home and their kids have launched lives and careers of their own. But the experience has never been far from their minds and they often wondered if there was a way they could help others facing cancer far from home.
When Diane and Al heard about plans for the Peltier Lodge, the new patient lodging facility to be located near Roger Maris, they knew they’d found their answer.
Recently, the couple made a significant gift to support the project. But they didn’t stop there. They invited their children to join them, creating a ripple of generosity that will flow through generations of their family and their community they call home.
‘It will be a godsend’
Diane’s cancer was revealed in 2020 after she suffered a series of broken bones. She was 58 years old and their children were well on their way to completing their college education and starting their careers. Diane and Al had mapped out a future which included paying off their mortgage, their children’s tuition and early retirement for Diane. Her cancer diagnosis changed everything.
With every step forward, it felt like they were taking another step back. Getting through chemo meant leaving for Rochester. A successful transplant meant months away from home, their kids and their routines. Through it all, facing the challenges of cancer along with everyday expenses and the cost of temporary lodging all continued without pause.
It’s why, they say, the Peltier Lodge will be such a game-changer for cancer patients who are far from home.
“It was so hard on us to be away — the pain of not seeing our kids, the financial burden, the stress of trying to find somewhere to stay — it was all so difficult,” Diane said. “Having a place that’s close to Roger Maris — a place you know is clean, where family can be with you — it will be a godsend.
Today at Roger Maris, nearly half of patients travel more than 60 miles for care and treatment — a stat Al wants people to be aware of.
“I hope word gets out so more people donate,” he said. “Patients at Roger Maris are our friends and neighbors.”
“
The Peltier Lodge will help take away the pain and anguish. It will make the journey easier.
Giving It Forward
Diane and Al’s gift for the Peltier Lodge is not their first gift to Sanford Health. In 2024, they established the Allen and Diane Holleman Endowment for Children through the Sanford Health Foundation. Annual distributions from the endowment provide support for Sanford Children’s in Fargo.
With that gift, and with their recent gift for the Peltier Lodge, they’ve been intentional about bringing their kids alongside them so they can experience the joy of giving and witness the impact of philanthropy.
“It’s a ‘give it forward.’ We want to instill in them the importance of giving back,” Diane said. “That’s something they can carry on after we’re gone.”
Give for Hope
If you’re inspired by this story and want to support our work to advance cancer care, make a gift today.
100% of your gift will support the Peltier Lodge, a state-of-the-art lodging facility designed to provide cancer patients and their families with a home away from home during treatment and throughout their outpatient care and monitoring.