Travel to Hope

Our Mission

Travel to Hope helps cancer patients and those who love them by providing both information and direct financial assistance to help with the costs to travel to treatment.

Our Story

In June 2015, our family had two loved ones diagnosed with rare and aggressive cancers, both requiring them to travel to get the medical treatment they needed. Unfortunately, our story is not unique. 

Although ultimately Connie and David did not survive their cancer battles, they did get precious time with all of us who loved them — time they would not have had if they couldn't afford to travel for their care.

As David met others along his cancer journey, we realized that far too many cancer patients are faced with the unthinkable choice of sacrificing care or getting inappropriate treatment because of the financial burden of travel.

Our desire to give time and hope to these cancer patients by helping them afford to travel for care was the inspiration to create Travel to Hope.

Why Give?

More than 250,000 Americans travel annually to receive cancer care.

This number is growing due to the need for the specialized expertise and equipment only found in larger cancer centers and to a growing scarcity of oncology resources, particularly in rural communities.

Many patients who need to travel for their care simply cannot afford to do so.  While insurance may cover treatment expenses, it rarely covers the cost of travel. This financial burden causes patients to sacrifice needed treatment or receive inappropriate care.

How We Help

We make information on available lodging, transportation and other financial resources easily understood and accessible through the information available on our website, as well as through individual consultation. 

The resources available on our website have provided many patients with the financial assistance needed to allow them to afford to travel to receive appropriate care.  However, when those resources are not sufficient, Travel to Hope is here to provide direct financial assistance to help patients (and one travel companion) with the costs of lodging and transportation during their trip.  

Our Impact

Since launching in September 2022, Travel to Hope has funded over 1,700 trips, enabling over 190 cancer patients in 24 states to afford to travel for their care and 20 of these patients to successfully complete their treatment.  (Data as of 9/1/24)

Although Travel to Hope helps patients regardless of where they live in the US, over 75% of the trips we fund are for Kentucky and Indiana cancer patients.

Please help us give hope to these patients and those who love them by donating today. 100% of your donation will go directly to help cancer patients with significant financial need afford to travel for the care they so desperately need.  Your donation is tax-deductible. 

To learn more, please visit us at www.TraveltoHope.org.