For many living with advanced cancer, the journey extends far beyond treatment plans and doctor visits. It’s a deeply personal experience -one that calls for emotional support, meaningful connection, and moments of peace that feel increasingly rare. That understanding is at the heart of Stage4Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a sanctuary where individuals and families navigating stage 4 cancer can find restoration, dignity, and community.
Founded by Stacy Carter, Stage4Hope was born from both personal experience and a desire to meet a need that often goes unaddressed. While medical care focuses on extending life, Carter recognized that quality of life - how people feel, connect, and heal emotionally - deserves equal attention. Her vision is now taking shape through an ambitious and deeply meaningful initiative, the development of a retreat center designed specifically for those living with advanced cancer.
Set on serene, thoughtfully selected land, the future retreat will offer more than just a place to stay, it will be a place to exhale. Plans for the space include peaceful accommodations, gathering areas for shared experiences, and natural surroundings that encourage reflection and calm. Every element is being designed with intention, ensuring guests feel supported, understood, and cared for in ways that extend beyond traditional healthcare settings.
This year, something especially meaningful is unfolding at the intersection of community and purpose. The ever-popular Bear Shadow Music Festival has found a new home at Ferngove, the 85-acre property just seven minutes from downtown Highlands that belongs to Stacy Carter and will serve as the backdrop for the Stage 4 Hope Retreat and Wellness Center. As part of this long-term collaboration, Bear Shadow has added a second stage Friday evening to raise money for Stage 4 Hope supporting patient travel featuring the GRAMMY® Award-winning Americana quintet The Infamous Stringdusters. Ferngrove will not only host the festival for years to come, but ultimately become a place of lasting restoration—where the energy of community gatherings today helps fuel a mission of healing for tomorrow.
The goal is simple yet profound, creating an environment where individuals can step away from the clinical and into the restorative. Whether it’s through quiet moments in nature, meaningful conversations with others on similar journeys, or simply the chance to rest without the weight of daily stress, the retreat will offer a sense of normalcy and comfort that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Led by a volunteer board of directors, Stage4Hope is also rooted in the belief that no one should walk this path alone. The organization emphasizes connection - not just between patients, but also among caregivers, families, and a broader support network. By fostering community, it helps ease the isolation that often accompanies a stage 4 diagnosis.
“This retreat is about giving people a place where they can truly breathe again,” says Carter. “When you’re living with stage 4 cancer, so much of your life revolves around appointments, treatments, and uncertainty. We want to create a space where, even for a short time, that weight is lifted—and replaced with peace, connection, and hope.”
That sense of hope is woven into every aspect of the project. It’s reflected in the intentional design, the mission-driven leadership, and the growing community rallying behind it. It’s also evident in the stories of those who have already connected with Stage4Hope—individuals who understand firsthand how meaningful even a brief escape can be.
As momentum builds for the retreat center, fundraising efforts are playing a critical role in bringing the vision to life. Supporters have the opportunity to contribute to something tangible and lasting—a place that will serve countless individuals and families for years to come. From the land and architectural planning to future programming, each step forward represents a collective investment in compassion and care. Roads, entrances, utilities and the administration building are under construction. Even while the retreat center is still in development, its impact is already being felt. Monies raised to date currently support accelerated access to the top cancer treatment facilities like MSK, City of Hope, patient travel and virtual and in-person retreats led by internationally recognized therapist and author Dr. Sharon May, Ph.D., LMFT.
With each contribution and shared story, Stage4Hope moves closer to opening its doors and fulfilling its mission. In a world where so much focus is placed on fighting disease, Stage4Hope offers something equally powerful: a place to simply be. And in that space, hope takes on a new and lasting meaning.
https://stage4hope.org
"This retreat is about giving people a place where they can truly breathe again," says Founder Tracy Carter.