What We Do
The Take a Break Movement
For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation has an elegantly simple model: provide adult cancer patients facing rigorous treatment or a guarded diagnosis with an opportunity to spend carefree and cost-free time with their caregiver and children in lovely settings. FPS families create priceless magical, memorable moments. Together, even for a glimpse, they experience immeasurable joy amidst devastating crisis. FPS offers comfortable and secure environments for families to celebrate in the face of uncertainty, reflect and reconnect in the midst of turmoil and strengthen their inner faith and share inspiration in the shadow of adversity. We encourage families to confront cancer hardships together. This experience empowers them for what lies ahead and encourages them to share their experiences as a beacon of hope for others. Their success inspires our gift-givers and grant-makers to help us.
We respond to the mental health, emotional well-being and psycho-social needs of an underserved young adult cancer population, ages 24 to 55, and their families. FPS provides a safe haven for emotional expression. FPS is the only organization that focuses exclusively on therapeutic respite travel experiences for adult cancer patients, their caregivers and families. For families in the FPS program, we offer ancillary support that assists them as their journey with cancer continues. This support takes many forms, including financial support to select families during the holidays, bereavement resources and access to bereavement support groups, invitations to patient-centric events whereby patients, caregivers and children can freely communicate with those facing the same crisis, complimentary attendance to amusement parks and invitations for patients, caregivers and surviving spouses to designated FPS events. Our goal is to help these families recognize it is love, not cancer, that defines them.
Our chapter educates New York and North Jersey Oncology Teams about the FPS nomination process, and hosts fundraising events throughout the year.
FPS has been awarded a perfect score by Charity Navigator, a feat accomplished by less than one-tenth of one percent of charities! As the end of 2023 approaches, we encourage you to make your gift by December 31! By choosing to support FPS, you are not just donating to a charity; you can give with confidence and know that your donation will have a direct impact on the 795 people we plan to serve this year with over 76,000 hours of respite.