Curry Leads Hope Lodge In Achieving Goal

Lubbock AJ

Curry leads charge in Hope Lodge achieving $11 million goal

By Sarah Nightingale | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Don Curry is not the quitting type.

The American Cancer Society volunteer didn't just help dream up a Lubbock Hope Lodge; he co-chaired the committee charged with raising the money to build it.

"He will not take no for an answer," said David Seim, who co-chaired the fundraising committee. "That's exemplified by the fact we are here today celebrating reaching our goal in a relatively short period of time."

The society announced Monday it raised the $11 million needed to complete construction of the lodge, which will provide accommodation for cancer patients and their families who travel away from home for treatment, as well as entice cancer researchers to Lubbock. To sustain the lodge's operations long-term, the society must raise another $4.5 million.

About $500,000 of the money raised came during a community-targeted 38 Days to Hope Campaign, which kicked off Aug. 23 and ended Sept. 30.

When it opens next summer, the lodge will be the first in Texas, the first west of the Mississippi River, and the first outside a major metropolitan area. There are 29 Hope Lodges in the U.S. and one in Puerto Rico, according to the society.

"(Curry) was instrumental in convincing the higher ups in the American Cancer Society that Lubbock is a good spot for a Hope Lodge," said Kathy Winn, director of distinguished event initiatives for the ACS.

"We were told it would be virtually impossible because this is (not a metropolitan) area," Curry said. "But it is very needed in this area.

Curry, a Lubbock attorney, said the need for a lodge stems from the extra burden cancer patients face when they travel for treatment. More than 2,000 patients travel more than 50 miles to receive treatment at Lubbock's hospitals, and the lodge will offer free

housing to an estimated 2,300 cancer patients every year, according to the society.

Curry was honored by the ACS in October with a Lifetime Achievement Award, which is bestowed on people who have served in three or more leadership positions and volunteered for more than 15 years.

"Few people have done what Don has done in terms of making a commitment to do something for other people and then following through," Seim said.

Curry, who is chair of the Lubbock ACS board, credits his volunteer spirit to his wife, Debbie.

"My wife has always maintained you have to pay for your space on this earth by doing something for others," he said.

Cancer, he said, was close to the couple's hearts because three of their parents died of the disease.

"Everyone is touched by cancer," Curry said. "Hopefully our work with the ACS is a legacy of sorts that will benefit a lot of people we don't know and will never know."

Lubbock's Hope Lodge

• Will offer accommodations to people traveling from out of the area for cancer treatment.

• To open summer 2010.

• 26,000 square feet.

• 32 private guest rooms.

• First in the west, first in Texas and first outside a major metropolitan area.

• $11 million raised for construction; $4.5 million still needed to operate the lodge.

• Donate at www.hopelodgelubbock.org or call 792-7128.

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HEALTH/Lubbock attorney Don Curry leads the charge as Hope Lodge reaches $11 million goal

Zach Long

Lubbock lawyer Don Curry recently won a lifetime achievement award from the American Cancer Society for his success as a fundraiser. (Zach Long/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal).