“I wouldn’t be in a proper mental state if the lodge didn’t exist,” says Bay of Plenty resident Gareth Gillies.

And Gareth, who stays at the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge in Hamilton while being treated for head and neck cancer, is not the only one.

He’s one of many BOP residents who’ll fight a cancer diagnosis this Christmas – meaning there’s no stopping for festivities or lazy summer days at the Lions Lodge as guests arrive for life-saving treatment.

Gareth says staying at the lodge has helped him to cope with a shock diagnosis.

“I can concentrate on healing, being positive and resting as well.

“One thing that’s unique about this place is the support network you have with the other cancer patients. We’re quite tight."

“There are no barriers here because you know they’re in the same boat as you.

"You will always find someone going through the same treatment or some are worse off than you and that gives you inspiration.”

If not for the lodge, Gareth would have had to travel from the BOP to Hamilton daily for treatment.

But the effects of chemotherapy would have meant he wouldn’t have been able to drive himself.

“The fatigue from the chemotherapy builds up.

"At the moment I don’t drive because I just get tired and I sleep a lot.

"So having the lodge, it’s amazing.

"I didn’t even know it existed!"

“And we all talk about it here.

"Every single cancer patient here is amazed it exists and we have this for free.

"This is the only Lodge that provides all the meals and it’s thanks to donations and volunteers!”

Cancer treatment at Waikato Hospital continues throughout summer, including during the Christmas-New Year break – and the lodge stays open too.

Lodge manager Henny Swinkels says the festive season can be especially difficult for guests going through a gruelling treatment programme while far from their loved ones.

“This is one of the hardest times of the year for our guests. Thankfully, we have more than 40 volunteers who give up their time to help staff make the Lodge a ‘home away from home’. We also have a regular rota of baking from our volunteers that never fails to bring some festive cheer.”

Earlier this year increasing demand saw the lodge open seven days a week.

Numbers have since reached an unprecedented high, with more than double the occupancy rate of five years ago.

In the 2018/2019 year the lodge accommodated 731 guests.

In the 2022/2023 this jumped to 1857 guests.

The Cancer Society is not directly government-funded and relies on donations to keep its doors open year-round.

Make a donation at: www.cancer.org.nz/donate-here