Stating the obvious: cancer takes an enormous toll on the sick individual and their family. Being stretched financially and every other way-emotionally, physically, spiritually and everything in between-may make the idea of a vacation a low priority. Yet downtime is important.
But what if the vacation were free? There are organizations that have made it their mission to provide needed respite to those affected by cancer. Here is a short list with links to a few that we have found.
Harmony Hill
Harmony Hill provides three-day Cancer Healing and Surviving Retreats at their facility in Union, Washington. The curriculum includes yoga, meditation, art, guided imagery and support. They provide a variety of retreats like family retreats, couples retreats, metastatic cancer retreats to name a few. Lodging, meals, and curriculum are free.
Reel Recovery
Reel Recovery is a national non-profit founded in 2003 that provides free fly fishing retreats for men who are living with cancer. Retreats are held all over the US-Colorado, Utah, Missouri, and New Jersey for example. There is also a retreat in New Zealand. Be sure to look at the list here.
Casting For Recovery
Like Reel Recovery, Casting For Recovery is a fly fishing centered program. The retreats are for women with breast cancer. Retreats are held all over the US. Medivizor featured Casting For Recovery in a blogpost called “Breast Cancer Patients Get Hooked“.
River Discovery
Located in Idaho, River Discovery offers adventures to adults and teens with cancer. Although other trips wee listed in previous years, the 6-day Salmon River trips for adults and teen cancer survivors is the only one posted for 2016 at this time.
Wind River Retreat
The Wind River Retreat is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tryon, North Carolina. Men and women living with any cancer who are in treatment or completed treatment can attend. The retreat gives priority to people with advanced cancers. They accept applicants from other states but most of the people who attend are from North Carolina. Tai Chi, meditation and hiking are some of the retreat’s offerings.
Resilience Racing
For those who are interested in sailing, even if you don’t have any experience, there is a program in the San Francisco area called Resilience Racing. All cancer survivors can participate.
First Descents
First Descents provides a free week long outdoor adventures for young adults (ages 18-39) and has started a new program for people 40-49. The adventure activities are kayaking, surfing and rock climbing and no experience is necessary. The adventures are held all over the US and are free to participants. They offer travel scholarships.
The organization has also developed weekend introductory programs called FDi which are affiliated with medical centers. These are free to young adult cancer fighters and survivors.
Little Pink Houses of Hope
Little Pink Houses of Hope provides free week-long beach retreats for people with breast cancer and their families. The beach retreats are held in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Delaware, Florida, and California. Each family stays in a beach home donated for that week. The refrigerators are stocked with drinks and breakfasts for the week. Lunch and dinner are eaten together with other families who are also spending the week at the beach. The family can participate in daily activities that have been donated by the local community.
Stowe Weekend of Hope
The Stowe Weekend of Hope offers a retreat weekend for cancer survivors and their families. It is an annual event located at Stowe, Vermont. Hotels donate rooms for the survivors and families. First time attendees can go for free.
The Family Cancer Retreat
The Family Cancer Retreat occurs twice a year in New Mexico. These three day retreats are free for cancer patients and their families. The focus is on education with past sessions titled, “You’ve Completed Treatment – Now What?” and “Meditation, Yoga and Creativity Workshops.” Activities are provided for children and teens as the patient and caregivers attend sessions.
Camp Mak-A-Dream
Camp Mak-A-Dream, located in Missoula, Montana, provides free four and five-day retreats for all ages with cancer. The camps for adults are women only: women with any cancer and women with ovarian cancer. Activities include yoga, zip line and art therapy with field trips to Missoula Farmers Market and the historic area.
All of the organizations described above utilize volunteers and donations of time, money and housing, to make these retreats possible. If you know of other free opportunities for vacation or retreat for people affected by cancer, please share it with others here in the comments.
Need couple of days for healing -fishing vacation after completion of radiation therapy …
Are These offers for US people only?
Hi my name is Kim and I have stage 4 cancer of the liver, pancreas, and stomach and I would love to have a camp retreat in Montana we have never been there and would love to relax and enjoy each other without the worry.
Hello Kimberly, I am writing to say I hope all is well. My husband has stage 4 pancreatic/ liver cancer as well.
HI I’m Nancy Pedraza and I have breast cancer stage two a and I would love to get away alone too have me time and relax plz help me find that peace I so much need right now
I would love to learn how my family and I may enjoy one of these great vacations or retreats because I am going through breast cancer rreatment and it would offer us the peace and tranquility that js needed right now for us. Thank you!! Sincerely,
Tricia
Be sure to click through on the links. There are application forms etc there. I hope that you and your family are able to go. Kathleen
Just sign up! They are all amazing.. I’ve been to a few by myself.. your family would love them!
Please consider linking to our website at http://www.sendmeonvacation.org
Gene Backus
Chair
Send Me On Vacation, Inc.
Please consider opening your services beyond breast cancer. Not every disease is cancer. Not every cancer is pink.
I agree. I am shut out of many programs yet I still need help just like a breast cancer patient.
There are many that aren’t just breast cancer! Try Camp Mak-a-dream, Epic, Send it..
I’m looking for a retreat for women with cancer, I’m 55 and have peritoneal mesothelioma. Love in Michigan
YES ! Unfortunately my cancer isn’t the pink one. I am a mother is 5, Mimi of 4, retired paramedic and my family would benefit from a getaway. My hubby and children have been through so much.
Comment to send my kids and there dad stage 4 Cancer
I have just learned of this site. This is amazing! I am now doing my second round of chemotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer (stage 4, originally), that has now gone to a lymph node on my left kidney (to which I only have a left kidney due to the cancer), and also two places on my lungs. I am doing IV chemotherapy and oral chemotherapy as well. From what the doctors say this will be pretty much the rest of my life. But, GOD has a plan and I would love it if only my family and I could go on a trip anywhere. Thank you for everyone that you help!
God Bless You!!
I would lI’ve to know if theRe are any respite vacations for men’s families other then the fishing if my husband just turned 60. We so need a respite vacation at this time after him going throught Chronic Myloid Leukemia. Sometimes it seems the mens families are forgotten so much of the time for things..
Looking for a family vacation. My husband has been battling mesothelioma for several years. He is headed for another round of Major treatment in July. We live month to month, waiting on scan reports so I cannot plan in advance. By the time we have a window flights are out of our price range. Any suggestions?
We have added to our list of vacations. Please check our follow-up post More Free Vacations For Adults With Cancer: Wish Foundations. There are wish foundations that may work for you and your family. Best wishes, Kathleen
I have stage 3c ovarian cancer I have lived 3 years so far still in chemo. Doctor said under 12 months. Is there any place I could go with my boyfriend
Please check our follow-up post More Free Vacations For Adults With Cancer: Wish Foundations. There are several on the list that would be perfect for you and your boyfriend. Best wishes, Kathleen
I have stage 4 Sarcoma cancer. I have not found much regarding support groups.I maybe able to benefit from a Getaway for myself and my husband. We live in Delaware.
http://www.Facesofcourage.org
A weekend Women’s camp outside of Tampa Florida. You are guaranteed to have a great time!
http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/wp-content/uploads/Retreats_for_Women_with_Cancer_and_Their_Families.pdf
Several retreats listed.
I see a lot of vacations specifically for breast cancer. My sister has ovarian stage 4, it is the sister of breast cancer. If you have one you are more likely to get the other. And ovarian has many less survivors than Breast Cancer. Wish people would recognize that. 😢
I have stage four ovarian cancer…… is there any trips I can take my family on?
I have uterine cancer and a inoperative tumor between my bladder and bowel. I recently had radation, surgery to close a whole left due to radiation and then brachytherapy. My husband has MS and we sure could use a vacation, but have no extra money. Please could someone see it in there heart to help us even have a mini vacation. Thank you and blessings.
I have been dx with stage 2 breast cancer, leaning to stage 3 because of its agressiveness and size..ive had partial masectomy and another excision..currently on my third chemo tx, its been tough on me and family emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually..it would be a dream come true to go on a small vacation and breath some fresh air..where can i apply.
I’ve just learned of your vacation retreats. I’m living with stage 4 liver and lympe mode cancer. I’m just so depressed thinking all the time we love to escape the turmoil of this disease. If you could over a small get away in :). Would be unforgettable!
This the worst 4 years of my life my pancreas, did not work so the put a stent I was always getting g sick they did not know why until the put the stent in the said I had duodenal problem thus was at birth never know about until I was 40 I had many surgeries trying to fix the problem but nothing still pain. Now going to jump until last year in October 23 2016 went to get the sent change and the found pancreatic cancer. I still have not cried or nothing still was in shock. They doctor said you know who Steve Jobs is I said yes he said you have the same cancer as her did it’s a fast aggressive type of cancer. Ok I go for more test for about 5months blood work every thing they had medical meeting on should I get the surgery. So final after 19 meeting I was a candidate for the Whipple surgery. They remove 1/3 of my pancreas 1/3 of my small intestine 1/3 of my stomach and the gallbladder I’m still shocked that I made it because I was in a coma. Than things got horrible when I came out found out a friend I trusted mentally abuse my 13 year old daughter treated her wrong I let her use my car she put so many miles she invaded my privacy going through my phone reading text messages that did not pertain to her, shared personal pictures in my phone tell my good friend she’s going to die anys ways she will never know she broke up my relationship with Mark I have been through hell I have one wish to get my car paid off bill are everywhere because of her she did not pay them this happened in April of this year. My daughter I feel so bad because I left her with that person . I want to focus on her sweet 16 in two years. I have no familk that I could count on just friends
Was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer in june of this year had tumor completly removed also have adneocarcenoma the kind that spreads cant think of the word…. Have just set up a 5 day disney vacation well really 4 day and one to settle in and was wondering if you guys help with these kinds of trips?
Hi Jasmine,
We don’t help with these trips. We have just compiled a list of organizations that do. Please reach out to those noted in the post. I hope that you are able to experience a trip. Best wishes, Kathleen
Looking for information to take my large family on a trip. Im 35 and a mother of six. Diagnoses with stage four colon cancer while pregnant and currently on chemo after going through extensive surgeries and chamo. I have six children ages 19,16,14,8,2 and four months. Any information is appreciated. Oh yes my daughter is doing well
Hubby is stg 4 lung cancer..an 66.. never been anywhere but fla when family was living,an 4years in Vietnam..we had planned on traveling after retirement..not happening now..no money now…we in Baltimore MD.
My husband has stage IV pancreatic cancer. He is undergoing chemo therapy and has 3 infusions to go. His oncologist gives him 9 to 12 months before the cancer begins to grow and spread. During the next year I’d like to do something special for him. On the top of his bucket list has always been to go to Anactica. We have both always been adventurous. At the current time we are in the process of selling off everything of value just to keep up with our mortgage. We cannot possibly pay for anything like a vacation. Like the above post, we had planned to travel after retirement. The day I retired we were hit with the news. He continues to work as a civil engineer, but needs to retire. He is such a good man he deserves something positive in his life before it ends.
I am 61 years young. 2012 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through all the t treatments and was cancer free.
Approx 3 years ago it returned in my bones from the upper spine down to my knees. It is called stage four metastatic breast cancer. It has recently moved into my liver so I am now terminal. About 3 months ago I was told I had 6 months to a year.
My wish is to attend a Tony Bennett concert and be his guest after his show. He would have to approve this but I sketched a portrait of him and was able to present it to him and have my picture taken with him. He had been my favorite singer since the age of 7.
Can this wish be granted?
Dear Becky,
There are two blogposts providing links to organizations that fulfill wishes. Please follow the links (click on them) in this article to find an organization that can fulfill your wish. I hope that you can get to attend a Tony Bennett concert by communicating with the organizations that are linked to this post. Best wishes, Kathleen
I have Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. I would love to be able to go to a concert.
I have Stage 3-4 Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma and have received numerous treatments over 3 years. I have now started a CarT Therapy recently approved. I will be very ill for around 2 months starting shortly. I am out of work for around 3 months and would love a break before I go back. Any suggestions on where I can go near Pennsylvania as I cannot afford airfare.
I’m not sure how this works and I’m never done anything like this so I’m just going to put it out there my father was diagnosed with cancermay of last year. He did the chemo and the radiation he took chemo pills he did chemo at the doctor’s office it was very rough he lost a lot of weight well they told him a few months ago that the cancer was gone and we were all very hopeful and faithful started to see him put on a few pound. I think we all thought wow dad pulled though this very well. He has to have pet scans and CT scans for routine so he had one and then the next day he went to his cancer survival class the onewhere are you talk about life after cancer and how blessed you are to have made it through cancer then I think it was maybe two days later he got a phone call Dave the cancer’s back wow well then I took him to the hospital cuz he hadn’t eaten in 3 days and they did a cat-scan and they say good answers move to your pancreas so here we are again right back at square one not quite sure with the course of treatment or action is yet but this is my father and he’s been married to my mother for 39 years together for more than that I have watched them love each other unconditionally since I was a little girl I have never seen my father disrespect my mother and anyway they love each other so much and watching my dad suffer through this cancer has been the most painful thing I’ve ever felt and watching my mother watch her husband suffer has been unbelievably painful now I know that my family is my family is at the only family going through this I see millions of people all the time dealing with the same struggles but financially we cannot afford to give them what I so think they deserve not even an ounce of what they deserve so what I’m looking for is a place that would help fund at night maybe two nights or they could just relax and enjoy each other’s company just a little while longer they have three kids and 10 grandchildren and I could have never asked for better parents in my life and we all love him so much and we just want them to have a little time alone happy together so if anybody out there help me help them I would greatly appreciate it and to all of you that are out there battling what my folks are battling God bless you and always keep the faith..
Hi Cheryl, Thank you for your comment and sharing your story. This blog post is about different organizations that fund opportunities for people like your father. The way it works is that you follow the links to the organizations listed in the blog and follow the directions for submitting a request. I hope this helps. Take care, Kathleen
My names Kimberly britt I’m dying soon from advanced liver dease .I contracted hepitis c 20 years ago and now in the last stage .no treatment or cure for me I’ll due soon .I need vacation life’s been very depressing and I’ve been abandoned by family and friends .most friends any how. Please give me some memorys of joy and happiness in this life .sincerely Kimberly britt of Athens Texas 903 203-2770 call if you wish .God bless us all with joy and happiness.
My Mom had a 11 by 14 mass removed as well as her right Kidney. The doctor said it had already spread throughout her body this was a year and a half ago and now it’s in her lung. She is 76 still going and fighting on but I want to do something special for her because after all the years she gave to her family and never took time for herself I would love to see her take a trip and just do what she wants. How can a find a way to do this?
Please follow the links in this blog post and also in More Free Vacations for Adults with Cancer: Wish Foundations. I hope that you are able to find her a trip. Best, Kathleen
Hello and Good Day My Name is J.C. My Mother in Law went thru her chemo as well as Radiation from loosing both her Breasts, she’s a trooper an Angel in Disguise at the young age of 82 😊. She’s one of The Greatest Women I know .. She’s been wanting to go to Las Vegas the whole time during her treatment.. I was told of The great things of this Web site is there any way possible That she with her Husband her daughter and I can Celebrate her ringing of the Bell .?
Recent cancer survivor, long to be by the beach need to get away .. not working on disability need some r and r badly
Diana
Would anyone know which foundation could make my sister’s wish come true? She has stage four cancer which not much time left. She always wanted to rent a camper and go see some National parks in the Midwest. Does anyone know who could help with This? I would do the driving. Any ideas could help.
I am stage four lung cancer and fighting the disease as well as the stigma. I am 47 never smoked in my life and was a marathon runner. So, lung cancer was never something I worried about. I have been given 1-2 years at best and would like something I can do with my husband and 17 year old son.
Hi, I am 40yrs old 4th stage cancer patient currently on my liver metastatic stage and would love to have some nice vacation time with my family. My 8 yrs old son my 6 yrs old daughter and husband .
My husband has stage 3 lung cancer and 3 weeks ago had brain surgery for the cancer move to brain this week he done radiation on his head .I would love to take him to Myrtle beach in South Carolina but our funds are low.Are they any programs that could help