Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Children’s Cancer Association (JoyRx)

JoyRx Nature — Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin · About this organization

What you get

Your family gets five free days at a lakeside cabin on 24 wooded acres near the coast, a quiet place to rest together during or after treatment. You pay nothing for the stay.

How to start

Ask your social worker or child life specialist about JoyRx Nature at the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin. Your child's medical team needs to confirm the diagnosis.

Good to know

  • There are no medical or support staff on site. Your family handles your child's daily care and all medical needs.

The details, as published

B-ALL is in scope Call To Confirm

A free five-day family retreat at the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin on the Oregon Coast for a child age 3–19 receiving qualifying treatment in Oregon or southwest Washington, or treated there within the last six months.

Go to the official program ↗

What help you may get

Camps And Retreats

JoyRx Nature — camps and retreats

Your child and extended family can take a no-cost, five-day stay together at the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin.

Noncash help

5 retreat days per award

Can cover

  • Five-day use of the Caring Cabin retreat property

Does not cover

  • On-site medical care or support staff
  • The stay is no-cost; travel, meals, and other included expenses are not published.

Check the main eligibility rules

Diagnosis

B-ALL is in scope. A child with B-ALL meets the cancer criterion when active treatment or treatment within the last six months and the Oregon/SW Washington treatment rule are met.

Age

Age 3 to age 19, measured at service date.

Treatment status

Active Treatment, Within One Year Post Treatment, Palliative Or Hospice

  • Cancer treatment must be active or have occurred within the last six months; severe blood disorders treated like cancer and hospice eligibility are alternative qualifying routes.
  • A medical professional must confirm the diagnosis.
  • The family must manage all child and medical needs because no medical or support staff are on site.
  • The retreat is no-cost.

Where you live and where your child is treated

Where your family lives

Residence coverage is not published clearly; confirm with the program.

Where your child is treated

Treatment must be in: Current treatment in Oregon or southwest Washington, or treatment there within the previous six months..

  • Current treatment in Oregon or southwest Washington, or treatment there within the previous six months.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
  • Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin — A private family retreat on 24 wooded acres near Pacific City on the Oregon Coast; the destination does not create residence eligibility. — Oregon Coast

How to get started

Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.

Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Social Worker, Child Life Specialist

  1. Ask the child's social worker or child life specialist for the current Caring Cabin referral or application and available dates.
  2. Confirm the child's diagnosis and qualifying treatment or hospice status using the current JoyRx process.

Ways to apply or ask

  • Web Form · Open form or page — Family request form on the JoyRx Portland page lists "JoyRx Nature" under services.

Documents to prepare

  • Medical-professional confirmation of diagnosis; exact form or document is not published.

Availability and timing

ProgramActive
ApplicationsCall To Confirm
Funding or spaceCall To Confirm
Application windowNot Published
Last checkedSep 29, 2026
  • The Caring Cabin is offered year-round as a no-cost five-day retreat; no booking calendar or waiting time is posted.

Limitations and things to confirm

  • Your family handles every daily and medical need because there are no medical or support staff at the Caring Cabin.
  • Your child must receive treatment in Oregon or southwest Washington now, or have received it there within the last six months.
  • Ask JoyRx about available dates and any travel or food costs your family would need to cover before planning the stay.
  • Confirm current application, capacity, included expenses, available dates, and booking workflow.
  • GPT Pro run58 (2026-09-25): What booking form, available dates, repeat-stay rules and travel or meal arrangements apply to the Caring Cabin?

Official sources

Program details were last verified Sep 29, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.

Official program