Hey guys, thanks for stopping by the NFN Radio News podcast. Today, we check in with Dave Fleischer who’s just completed his fourth week of the Journey of Hope in memory of his daughter, Sarah, who passed away in 2018 from a horrible cancer, cholangiocarcinoma.

In this episode, Dave reports in from Hershey, PA after driving 10,000 miles as he’s crossed the country and visited several towns called Hope, numerous cholangiocarcinoma caregivers, patients and families. Altogether, plans call for the trip to include stops in 17, maybe 18 towns named Hope all across the country.

A major goal of the trip, which will take Dave to all 48 contiguous states, is to help raise money to support research into this disease and during which they hope to spread awareness and bring hope to patients, caregivers, and others along the way. He’s closing in on the goal of $45,000 – and the trip has two weeks to go. The journey is scheduled to end June 29 or July 1, depending on circumstances.

The road trip, in a car with a specially designed wrap promoting cholangiocarcinoma awareness, includes stops at various hospitals and healthcare institutions that specialize in research and treatment of the disease, in addition to the get-togethers with patients, caregivers and healthcare providers who were important in Sarah's life. He says those visits are remarkable.

Cholangiocarcinoma starts in the bile duct and is an incredibly deadly cancer, which afflicts about 8,000 people in the United States each year. Most of its victims are 65 or older, but Sarah was only 31 when she was diagnosed. She passed away at age 35.

The trip is being supported by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, which has made the specially designed Honda SUV available for the journey. Sponsors are Incyte, Ken Garff Honda, QED Therapeutics, Servier, Taiho Oncology, Welch’s Fruit Snacks and Zymeworks. Tee shirts commemorating the trip are available by clicking on the store at https:cholangiocarcinoma.org.

And now, let’s talk with Dave Fleischer as he reports in after his fourth week on the Journey of Hope, during which he’ll share with us what he’s been thinking about while driving all those miles by himself. Some of it’s funny. Some pretty meaningful.