Learn More About Our Cancer Travel Expense Grants
Did you know that Stage4Hope provides Cancer Travel Expense Grants to help advanced-stage cancer patients and their caregivers overcome the financial barriers of traveling for treatment? We know that life-saving care is not always available close to home. These grants help cover the costs of reaching top cancer centers so patients can focus on healing, not logistics. Learn if you qualify and how Stage4Hope can help:
Who Can Apply
- U.S. residents with Stage 3 or Stage 4 cancer
- Must be traveling 100+ miles one-way or require an overnight stay for treatment
- In active treatment or scheduled for a second opinion (Stage 3 or 4 only)
- Support is for the patient and one caregiver
- Applications must include verification from the patient’s oncology team
What We Cover
- Airfare or train tickets
- Hotel stays near the treatment center (must first check free/charity lodging such as Hope Lodge)
- Ground transportation (gas, tolls, parking, ride services, or public transit)
- Meals while traveling for treatment
Grant Amounts
- Typical trip: $500 – $1,000
- High-cost cities or multi-day stays: up to $1,500
- Maximum per patient per 12 months: $1,500 (exceptions possible for urgent needs)
Stage4Hope Featured in The Laurel Magazine Ahead of Bear Shadow Music Festival
Stage4Hope is excited to share that we were recently featured in The Laurel Magazine in an article highlighting our partnership with the Bear Shadow Music Festival. The piece showcases our Founder, Stacy Carter’s, journey in developing Stage4Hope, along with her vision for the Ferngrove campus as the future of the Stage4Hope Retreat and Wellness Center and the permanent home of Bear Shadow.
Bear Shadow will take place May 29–31, 2026. Proceeds from Friday night’s benefit concert will go directly to Stage4Hope to fund travel expenses to support cancer patients’ access to advanced treatment.
The article also highlights the exciting future of Ferngrove, creating opportunities for additional events in the years ahead, from smaller performances and donor gatherings to wellness-focused programming that can live alongside the festival weekend. It’s a model designed to support Bear Shadow’s presence and longevity while providing Stage4Hope with a vibrant, community-centered platform to strengthen our mission of providing advanced cancer patients and caregivers the support they need.
Access the full article here >
To learn more about Bear Shadow and purchase tickets, click here >
Stage4Hope Receives Grant Award from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation
Stage4Hope is excited to announce that our organization has received a generous $50,000 grant award from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation in support of our initiative, Expanding Cancer Access & Support in Western NC: A Highlands-Based Initiative. We are deeply honored by the Foundation’s confidence in our mission and grateful for their partnership in helping cancer patients across Western North Carolina access timely care, hope, and healing.
We are extremely grateful for this opportunity as part of the Foundation’s 2025 Lift Grant. This opportunity will directly advance our work to establish a Highlands-based retreat center offering life-changing assistance to those facing advanced cancer diagnoses. Their investment brings us closer to ensuring that patients in rural communities have the same access to specialized treatment and compassionate support as those in major medical centers.
On behalf of our team, board members, and advisors, we sincerely appreciate the support from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation and look forward to continuing our partnership in bringing hope to advanced cancer patients and their families.
Meet Dr. Sharon May
Meet Dr. Sharon May: The Trusted Guide Behind Stage4Hope Retreats
When you’re facing a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, who leads you matters.
Not just their kindness — but their depth, training, experience, and ability to hold space when emotions are raw and life feels uncertain. At Stage4Hope, our retreats are led by Dr. Sharon May, a therapist, educator, and nationally respected voice in emotional healing and relational care.
Dr. May doesn’t simply facilitate conversations. She brings decades of clinical expertise and human wisdom into a space designed for people navigating one of the hardest moments of their lives.
A Foundation of Clinical Excellence
Dr. May holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master’s degree in Theology from Fuller Graduate School of Theology, grounding her work in both evidence-based psychology and deep understanding of meaning, identity, and emotional resilience.
She is a licensed therapist and a Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Therapist and Supervisor, trained in one of the most research-validated therapeutic models for emotional regulation, attachment, and secure connection. EFT is widely recognized for helping people manage fear, grief, and relational disruption — all central experiences for those facing advanced cancer.
Her academic research and doctoral work focused on attachment theory and emotional bonding, exploring how people find safety, steadiness, and connection during times of crisis. This research-informed foundation shapes every retreat she leads.
Leadership, Teaching, and National Influence
Dr. May is the Founder and President of Safe Haven Relationship Center, where she has spent years developing therapeutic curriculum, training clinicians, and guiding individuals and families through trauma, loss, and major life transitions.
She also serves on the Executive Board of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), reflecting her standing as a trusted leader within the counseling profession.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. May is an adjunct professor who has taught counseling and therapy courses, helping shape the next generation of clinicians. She is also a frequent national speaker, presenting workshops and trainings across the U.S. and internationally.
Many people may recognize her from radio and television appearances, including Focus on the Family, Family Talk, Life Today, and her own program Arguing with Dr. Sharon. She is also the author of two books on emotional connection and communication, extending her reach well beyond the therapy room.
Why This Matters for Stage4Hope Retreats
Credentials matter — but how they translate into care matters more.
Dr. May brings all of this experience into Stage4Hope retreats with a grounded, human approach. She creates spaces that feel safe, steady, and deeply respectful. Participants are never pressured to share. Silence is welcome. Listening is participation.
In retreats like Still Me, Dr. May guides participants through:
- Grounding practices that calm racing thoughts and emotional overwhelm
- Reflection and journaling that help process shock and fear
- Gentle guidance on communicating with loved ones and setting boundaries
- Group connection rooted in dignity, confidentiality, and understanding
- Identity-centered reflection that honors the person beyond the diagnosis
This is not surface-level support. It is carefully facilitated emotional care led by someone who understands both the science of healing and the humanity of suffering.
A Guide You Can Trust
People come to Stage4Hope retreats for support — and they stay because they feel seen.
Dr. Sharon May brings credibility, calm, and compassion into every retreat she leads. Her presence reassures participants that they are in capable hands — guided by someone who understands trauma, connection, fear, hope, and the complexity of being human in the face of cancer.
That trust is everything.
If you are seeking a retreat led by a therapist with true depth, experience, and heart, you will find it here.
Still Me: Retreat for the Newly Diagnosed (Virtual)
Retreat for the Newly Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
February 16, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 PM EST
A Stage 4 cancer diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted beneath you.
The questions.
The fear.
The shock.
If you’ve been newly diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer, you may be wondering: What just happened? Who am I now? How do I even begin to process this?
That’s why Stage4Hope is hosting Still Me: Retreat for the Newly Diagnosed, a therapist-led virtual experience designed specifically for individuals navigating the early days of a Stage 4 diagnosis. This is a free online event.
A Space to Pause, Process, and Breathe
Still Me is a 90-minute virtual retreat created to help you:
- Process the emotional shock of a late-stage diagnosis
- Steady overwhelming emotions
- Learn practical coping tools
- Begin rebuilding a sense of stability
- Connect with others who understand
This is not a medical seminar.
It is a guided emotional reset.
You don’t have to have the right words. You don’t have to be “strong.” You just have to show up.
Led by Dr. Sharon May
This virtual retreat is led by Dr. Sharon May, Ph.D., LMFT, an internationally recognized therapist and author with decades of experience helping individuals navigate trauma, grief, and life-altering diagnoses.
Dr. May creates a calm, compassionate environment where participants can:
- Make sense of their emotional reactions
- Learn grounding techniques
- Begin reframing fear into resilience
- Feel seen and supported
Her approach combines clinical expertise with deep empathy—offering both structure and space when you need it most.
Who Is This Retreat For?
This retreat is specifically for:
Individuals newly diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer
Those in the early weeks or months of an advanced-stage diagnosis
Patients feeling overwhelmed, numb, anxious, or emotionally unsteady
Anyone needing a safe place to process and begin coping
Whether your diagnosis was days ago or a few months ago, this space is designed for you.
Event Details
Still Me: Retreat for the Newly Diagnosed
📅 February 16, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM EST
💻 Virtual Event
You can attend from the comfort of your home. All you need is a quiet space and an internet connection.
Why “Still Me”?
A Stage 4 diagnosis can make you feel like everything about your identity has changed.
But underneath the fear and uncertainty, you are still you.
This retreat helps you begin reconnecting with that truth.
You are more than a diagnosis.
You are still you.
You Don’t Have to Walk This Alone
At Stage4Hope, we believe emotional support is just as important as medical treatment. Our virtual retreats, support groups, and training events are designed specifically for those living with advanced-stage cancer.
If you are newly diagnosed, this is your invitation to pause, breathe, and take your first step toward emotional steadiness.
👉 Reserve your spot today and join us for Still Me. This is a free virtual event.
We look forward to holding space for you.
Stage4Hope Launches to Transform Advanced-Stage Cancer Care
Stage4Hope Launches to Support Patients with Cancer
Stage4Hope™, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by stage IV lung cancer patient Stacy L. Carter, launches to accelerate access to expert cancer care, provide emotional and financial support, and advance precision oncology research.
We are pleased to announce the official launch of Stage4HopeTM, a 501(c)(3) public charity! We have a powerful mission: to improve the lives of individuals diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer by accelerating access to world-class cancer care, providing financial and emotional support, and investing in cutting-edge research in precision oncology.
Founded by Stacy L. Carter—a mother, entrepreneur, and non-smoker diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2023—Stage4Hope was born out of her own journey and the urgent need to bring hope, clarity, and purpose to others facing similar diagnoses.
“I started Stage4Hope because I know what it’s like to hear the words ‘stage IV’ and to have my whole world fall apart,” says Stacy. “What carried me forward was finding purpose in the midst of the pain. Now, we’re building a place where patients can access expert care quickly, find emotional healing, and rediscover hope and purpose—even in the middle of the storm.”
News: Explore Our Website
We are proud to launch our new website—Stage4hope.org—an informative space created to support individuals living with advanced-stage cancer.
Stage4Hope is accelerating your path to world-class cancer care by removing barriers, offering connection, and walking alongside you with dignity and support.
From no-cost retreats and informative resources to financial assistance and clinical trial guidance, our site provides tools that help patients and families navigate this journey with greater clarity and care.
At the heart of everything we do is a belief worth repeating:
“Our vision is to show those living with advanced-stage cancer that life doesn’t end with a diagnosis. There is still hope. There is still purpose. And there is still a life worth living.”
We invite you to explore the new website, share it with others, and return often as we grow our services and community.
Ferngrove Stays: Arriving 2026
Coming in 2026, Ferngrove will offer a serene sanctuary for individuals facing advanced-stage cancer—nestled just outside the vibrant town of Highlands, North Carolina. Renowned for its world-class hospitality, Highlands is home to two of the nation’s top 10 bed-and-breakfasts, alongside a charming downtown filled with exceptional restaurants, galleries, and boutique shops—all just five minutes from the stillness of Ferngrove.
Guests will stay at no cost in thoughtfully designed private cottages, each with sweeping mountain views and calming forest surroundings. These cottages feature open, vaulted living spaces with cozy fireplaces, designer kitchens, and spa-inspired baths complete with soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and private decks overlooking the national forest.
Ferngrove will offer a quiet peacefulness—a place to think, reflect, and simply breathe. Here, the noise of treatment and uncertainty can begin to fade, and healing can start with stillness. Stays will be flexible and self-guided, with optional offerings such as emotional health sessions, integrative wellness tools, and a signature six-week guided program focused on processing grief and building resilience.
Check back soon for photos and more information as we prepare to welcome our first guests in 2026.
