Washington Regional unveils new J.B. Hunt cancer support home
by July 15, 2021 3:04 pm 1,138 views
Larry Shackelford, president and CEO of Washington Regional Medical System.
Fayetteville-based healthcare organization Washington Regional Medical System celebrated Thursday (July 15) the opening of the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Cancer Support Home.
The 9,980-square-foot facility at 488 E. Longview St. in Fayetteville offers cancer patients overnight lodging with eight accessible guest suites, a wig and prosthesis boutique and support services. The home is unique to Northwest Arkansas and services are provided at no charge to patients regardless of where they receive care. The new building was made possible by donors, including Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt, for which the facility is named.
The John and Tamara Roberts family chaired the $4.1 million fundraising campaign for the new home. According to the Washington Regional website, the campaign goal was met and includes the capstone gift from J.B. Hunt. In February 2020, the company donated $2.5 million to Washington Regional Medical Foundation to enhance and expand neurological and cancer support services at Washington Regional. Of that amount, $1.5 million was dedicated to the home.
John Roberts is president and CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services.
“Our family was moved by the support available through the Cancer Support Home to those navigating the unfamiliar road of a cancer diagnosis,” the Roberts family said in a statement. “We wanted to be part of easing the burden and relieving some of the stress of an already stressful situation for cancer patients and their families.”
The home started to welcome guests on March 29, and since then, it has provided 177 nights of overnight lodging to 18 families.
“We are grateful to both J.B. Hunt Transport Services and the Roberts family for their generosity and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of people in Northwest Arkansas,” said Larry Shackelford, president and CEO of Washington Regional Medical System. “Their support allows Washington Regional to further its mission of improving the health of people in the communities we serve.”
Construction on the home started in February 2020. deMx Architecture and C.R. Crawford Construction, both of Fayetteville, led the project team.