By Amanda Jackson, Haley Jones, and Lilli Ward

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Relay for Life student organization recently hosted a wildly successful annual fundraising event to advance the American Cancer Society’s cancer research and continues that support with another cornerstone partnership with the Nashville-based Hope Lodge.

The American Cancer Society Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge is a program that provides free temporary housing for cancer patients and their families during treatment.

Through April 25, Relay for Life of MTSU and the Service-Learning Health Promotions class taught by associate public health professor Bethany Wrye in the Department of Health and Human Performance are hosting a drive to provide items like nonperishable snacks, cleaning supplies, and paper products for Nashville Hope Lodge guests. 

Items are being collected at several convenient locations across campus.

Requested Supplies:

• Snacks: Electrolyte packets/drinks, protein bars, breakfast bars, instant meals, tuna pouches, chips, snack crackers, oatmeal. *Please limit canned food items*
• Paper items: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, paper plates/bowls, Kleenex, sanitizing wipes.
• Cleaning items: laundry pods, detergent, dryer sheets, all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, hand soap, hand sanitizer.

Drop Locations:

• Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, Student Union Room 330.
• Kirksey Old Main Room 103 (University Studies Department).
• Murphy Center Room 112 (Health and Human Performance Department).
• Peck Hall Room 324, General Education English Office.
• Recreation Center lobby.

Easing the burden

The Hope Lodge in Nashville, which opened in 2004, offers 41 guest rooms located near treatment centers in the area, according to its website. 

Derek Calderara, Nashville Hope Lodge senior manager, says their primary goal is to “reduce the cost burden…let (patients and their families) spend those resources elsewhere and not have to rack up debt in order to just try to proceed with their cancer journey.” 

Calderara emphasizes how easing this burden “all comes down to people in the community being willing to support the work that we do.”

The partnership with Hope Lodge is one of the many ways that Relay for Life of MTSU provides support to the community outside of the annual relay event, which raised over $17,000.

Sara Sykes, who stayed at the Hope Lodge in Nashville several times while her husband participated in clinical trials at the Sarah Cannon Research Facility, said the Hope Lodge helped alleviate the stress of her husband’s treatment. The ease of travel and having no other expenses while staying at the Hope Lodge was helpful to them, she added.

Sykes recalls the MTSU Relay for Life volunteers bringing food, canned goods and kitchen supplies like coffee cups and paper plates donated by the MTSU community. 

Not only a recipient of such generosity, Sykes herself participated in a past donation drive along with her daughter, Casie Higginbotham, former MTSU faculty member. Sykes confirms the difference these donation drives make for those staying at Hope Lodge, noting, “all of those things that are collected on that campus are used and appreciated very much (at Hope Lodge).” 

Relay for Life’s partnership with the Hope Lodge allows the student organization to continue to support and bring together those battling cancer outside of the annual Relay event while fostering a sense of community on a smaller scale among guests at the Hope Lodge as well as on the larger scale in the Midstate community. 

Visit the Relay for Life of MTSU website for more information.The Hope Lodge is located at 2008 Charlotte Ave. in Nashville. For more information, call 615-342-0840 or visit their website.