How Stage4Hope is Expanding Support for People With Advanced Cancer

From diagnosis to determination 

When Stacy Carter was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in December 2023, not only was she confronted with the world-altering implications of facing late-stage cancer, but she was also quickly made to realize the complexities and challenges involved in obtaining the care she needed.

Initially told she had just three months to live, Stacy, a lifelong nonsmoker, devoted mother, and established entrepreneur, was determined to defy the odds and chart her own course forward. She drew on more than three decades of executive leadership, along with deep tenacity and resilience, to pursue second opinions, consult specialists, and undergo genomic testing, all in search of the best possible treatment. 

Through this process, Stacy learned that her cancer had a genetic mutation called a ROS1 fusion, which could be targeted by precision therapy. She began treatment soon after, and she continues to do well two and a half years after her diagnosis while enrolled on a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) — an outcome she now understands not all advanced cancer patients are able to achieve. 

Turning a personal journey into a purposeful mission 

Shaped by her experience, in June 2025, Stacy launched Stage4Hope, a nonprofit whose mission is to break down the barriers she learned firsthand that people with late-stage cancer can face while navigating the complex care system. By partnering with world-leading institutions like MSK, Stage4Hope works to accelerate access to specialized cancer care, helping patients reach expert physicians, advanced treatment programs, and clinical trials faster. 

Fueling critical research at MSK 

In March 2026, Stage4Hope announced a $2.5 million multi-year commitment to MSK to support translational research led by Alexander Drilon, MD, Chief of the Early Drug Development Service at MSK and a leading investigator in precision oncology. Dr. Drilon has been at the forefront of research and clinical trials for several targeted therapies for people whose cancer is ROS1-positive, including repotrectinib, taletrectinib, and zidesamtinib. 

This generous gift from Stage4Hope was inspired by the care Stacy received at MSK and her gratitude for the access she had to therapies that have allowed her to continue to move her mission forward. Under Dr. Drilon's leadership, the funds will help accelerate the research needed to help bring the most promising treatment options for advanced cancers, including precision therapies, to more people, sooner. 

Building a brighter future 

In just its first year, Stage4Hope has already made a tremendous difference, but Stacy is committed to continuing to build on this success by expanding the ways it supports late-stage cancer patients and their families.  

The organization takes a holistic approach to making an impact by addressing the financial, logistical, and emotional burdens that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Stage4Hope offers travel assistance for people who need to leave their home communities to reach leading cancer centers, shares educational resources and guidance for patients and caregivers, and provides mental health services to help them process and get through this extraordinarily difficult time.  

Next up in Stacy’s visionary plan: the Stage4Hope Retreat and Wellness Center. Just outside of downtown Highlands, North Carolina, is Ferngrove, an 85-acre property that Stacy is transforming into a dedicated campus designed to provide patients and caregivers with serene spaces and thoughtful programming for healing, reflection, and support, reinforcing Stage4Hope’s commitment to addressing both the physical and emotional elements of cancer care. The space will begin accommodating guests at no cost in 2027. 

Through her leadership and generosity, Stacy is helping to build a future where more people with advanced cancer can find the care, connection, and breakthroughs they need when it matters most. What began as one patient’s determination to find the best possible care has become a powerful force for change, and the MSK Giving community is profoundly grateful for this partnership with Stacy and Stage4Hope.