American Cancer Society Breaks Ground On Chad Richison Hope Lodge

Oklahoma City will soon have a new place that will help thousands of people every year in their battle against cancer.

The ground has been broken, now it’s time to start building. 

“We finally had a day where we had some dirt flying, and we’re going get this thing built," said Jeff Fehlis, American Cancer Society Executive VP of the south region. 

American Cancer Society Hope Lodges provide free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who can't afford it, and now Oklahoma City will soon have one. 

Located on the OU Health campus, the lodge will feature 34 private suits, plus a kitchen, dining hall, and recreation rooms. 

“We just want to create a very special environment that allows them just to focus on that treatment, and a place to come home to, and it’s truly a home away from home," said Fehlis.

The lodge will be named for Paycom CEO Chad Richison, who gave a $5 million capstone gift, the largest the ACS has ever received in Oklahoma. 

The lodge is expected to be completed in late 2022, and once open, it’s estimated to serve more than 2,000 patients and caregivers a year, adding up to $2 million worth of savings.

Carla Prothro knows just how valuable the Hope Lodge will be. 

The Tulsa resident had extended stays multiple times for lung cancer treatment in Oklahoma City. 

“We underwent a huge financial burden, and I went through a lot of stress when I was in the hospital trying to heal, worrying about my family having to pay for things," said Prothro.

Stress that you don’t need when fighting for your life. 

The Hope Lodge offers piece of mind, and not just financially. 

 “At the end of the day, it’s a place where you can take some of that worry of that cancer journey off, create a community where people can share, they can laugh, they can cry together,” said Fehlis.

“I get emotional when I talk about it, because I know how many people are going to benefit from this. They don’t know it yet, but it’s a big thing," said Prothro.