FOR PETES SAKE CANCER RESPITE FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
The mission of For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation is to enable cancer patients and their loved ones the opportunity to strengthen, deepen, and unify their relationships by creating unforgettable and lasting respite experiences.
About This Cause
History of For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation (FPS), is a non-profit organization located in Plymouth Meeting, PA. FPS was born out of a tragedy. Our founder, Marci Bossow Schankweiler started FPS after she lost her husband, Pete, to cancer at the age of thirty. During his thirteen month battle, their community of family and friends sponsored an old fashioned beef and beer, then presented the monies to them to fund their own respite vacation: some time away after grueling chemotherapy and major surgery to refresh, relax and rejuvenate mind, body, spirit and even their own relationship. Prior to his death, Pete and Marci laid the groundwork for FPS, so that other adult cancer patients could take a break from the devastating effects of cancer. Marci placed a note in Pete’s obituary asking for donations for a new charity. For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation was born. A FPS Respite – the “Who, What, Where, and When” To be eligible for a respite, a patient must be between the ages of 21 and 55, have a physician’s diagnosis of cancer and be nominated by an oncology professional. Patients outside of the suggested age range are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, by our Program Committee. FPS strives to select an excursion date and formalize all travel arrangements for the patient and the caregiver within 120 days of receiving the patient’s nomination form. Presently, FPS has partnered with over 100 cancer centers, and 100% of nominating professionals report improvement in their patient’s outlook on his or her cancer diagnosis and treatment. Priority is given to patients that reside in PA, NJ, and DE, although a minimal amount of patients are accepted on a national scale. The respite program is administered by retired registered nurses who work individually with the patient and caregiver when planning the respite experience. FPS absorbs all expenses related to the week-long respite experience, including travel costs, and gifts a cash stipend to cover incidental respite costs. Currently, FPS is exclusively working with our travel partner, Woodloch Resort, and nominated families are invited to spend five nights/six days at this safe, top-rated family destination. FPS makes all the travel arrangements for a maximum of one week for the patient, his/her spouse or primary caregiver, and children, if requested. Each patient receives a travel bag that contains toiletries, robes, a journal, a camera, inspirational writings. Through our Backpack Buddies Program, children receive their own special travel bag filled with age-appropriate goodies for their trip, as well as hand written notes from school-aged children wishing them well. Upon return, the patients completes an evaluation, which measures the success of the respite. Even after the respite experience is over, FPS staff and volunteers stay in touch with the patients and their loved ones through phone calls, event invitations and the annual patient holiday reception. The patients and their families are forever a part of our community. A FPS Respite – the “Why” A FPS respite is a part of the continuum of care that a cancer patient can receive. Patient needs in our targeted and underserved age group (21-55) are complex. As a component of palliative care, FPS believes the power of communication, relaxation and peace derived from a respite can address the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis. A FPS respite can help to bring those important pieces of life to the forefront for our patients and their families. Further, USA Today reported in February, 2011, about the relevance of palliative care. Thomas Lynch, director of the Yale Cancer Center, commented in the article, “But palliative care patients didn't just live longer. They also lived better, with less depression and a higher quality of life.” Our outcome measures, support this and and are available on our website at www.takeabreakfromcancer.org, documenting that both the patient and family receive benefits from the respite experience. One teenage daughter recently wrote us and said, “I finally have my dad back!” Her life will always have those happy memories of her dad, apart from his cancer, hospital stays, and treatments. With a fully planned and paid for respite from FPS, the entire family unit is able to focus on each other and experience a break from the cancer in order to renew mind, body, and spirit while creating precious memories together. Our program preserves the well-being and unity of families facing a cancer crisis. A For Pete’s Sake respite is much more than a vacation. As outlined in our outcome measures, a respite can make a significant impact in the physical and mental health of a cancer patient. Further, FPS has received endorsement from Dr. Ruth McCorkle, Ph.D., FAAN and president of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society: “The role of one’s spirit when facing cancer should never be underestimated. For Pete’s Sake strengthens the spirit and in turn, arms a patient for one of life’s most challenging journeys. One major objective of For Pete’s Sake is to complement other types of palliative care that a patient may receive. A World Health Organization statement describes palliative care as "an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual." FPS receives many requests from oncology health care professionals who recognize the enormous and overwhelming difficulties with which their patients struggle daily and the consequential need for a respite. The young adult cancer patient is a member of an underserved population group as ancillary assistance is frequently dedicated to young children and senior citizens. Further, research is often a top priority. FPS focuses on the lives of those impacted by cancer now – lives cut short prematurely. Patient needs in this age group are complex and compounding and FPS recognizes the psychological, emotional, economic and spiritual challenges that arise from an unexpected cancer diagnosis at this young age. Most importantly, For Pete’s Sake receives accolades from respected professionals in the oncology field, including Dr. Bruce Giantonio of University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center who shared, “My patients wake up every morning and face a ruthless enemy. For Pete’s Sake helps them escape that enemy momentarily – providing an incredible opportunity to renew their strength and come back – braver than ever. Respite and regeneration is remarkably important for my patients.” The importance of respite is becoming prevalent in the Oncology community. FPS’s Founder and President, Marci Bossow Schankweiler, presented at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) 7th Annual Conference a program titled "Respite as Complementary and Supportive Care for Adult Cancer Patients, Their Caregivers and Their Families". Using a systematic approach, FPS has a specific niche focused on the respite piece in the total patient continuum of care. FPS fields many phone calls from physicians who appreciate the ability to deliver both the good news of an impending respite along with the challenging news of a negative diagnostic test. Measurements of Success In the fight against cancer, FPS is 100% undefeated. Evaluation of the respite program is done at the program management level, the patient level and by the nominating oncology professionals. At the management level, the Patient Program Advisory Committee plays an integral part of the process. The Committee itself is comprised of fifteen health care professionals (nurses, patient coordinators, physicians and social workers) of health institutions that nominate patients to our program. These individuals are intimately aware of Patient Guidelines. The committee meets quarterly to review the Guidelines and recommend changes as necessary to meet patient needs. Pending Board approval, changes are immediately enacted. This committee has recently drafted Clinical Assessment Factors for oncology professionals to use in helping to triage patients to our program, and provides in-service training to every new nominator. Also at the management level is the monthly Program Report that provides the qualitative and quantitative measures for program statistics. These statistics are derived from the patient’s and health care professional’s evaluations. At the professional level, health care providers have noted that post respite, 100% of the patients and families show improvement in coping with cancer. At the patient level, our outcome measurement matrix demonstrates the need for a respite to complement the conventional medical treatment for cancer. FPS utilizes our website, takeabreakfromcancer.org to be completely transparent with the results of our patient and nominator surveys, and shares the many heartwarming postcards and photos through social media.