My name is Kate Hockford, and I am the founder of Night Out For You Inc. I have stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. I tend not to believe in coincidences, so without my diagnosis, I would not have been at the oncologist’s office to meet the woman who is my inspiration for this wonderful not for profit organization.

We started talking, and I learned that she was sad. After 91 chemotherapy treatments, she was told by her doctor that her tumors were no longer responding, and the next step was surgery. She was tired of being sick and scared of what the next step might bring, or not bring, to her life. So after I encouraged her repeatedly that she ‘CAN DO THIS!’, we exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch.

The encounter resonated with me. I sent that woman I met in my oncologist’s office a gift card to a local restaurant so she could take herself and her daughters out for the evening on me. No strings attached, just an offering to go and enjoy herself. People who don’t feel good, who wait in fear for the return of lab results, afraid for what the next step is in their care, need a break from a diagnosis. This encounter was the reason behind the creation of Night Out For You, Inc..

Through the help of friends and my husband, that idea evolved into Night Out For You Inc., which goes beyond focusing on a dinner, and offers a cancer patient an opportunity to enjoy their own customized night or day out. Night Out For You Inc. offers an experience that will allow adults undergoing cancer treatment to forget about their diagnosis, and be who he or she really is. We truly believe a few hours to look forward to offers hope and love in the long run.