New "Lancao Home" Offers Free Lodging for Families of Young Patients in Hangzhou

In a heartwarming effort to ease the struggles of families with seriously ill children, the Lancao Home initiative was unveiled on May 29 to provide free short-term housing for families of children undergoing medical treatment far from home. The project, launched by the Zhejiang One Plus One Foundation in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZCH), offers up to 14 days of accommodation to ease the financial and emotional burden on low-income families.  

Located just 600 meters from ZCH’s Moganshan campus,  Lancao Home features 17 fully equipped rooms within a hotel, each with a private kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator, and dining area, and shared laundry facilities. The project marks a significant upgrade from its predecessor, Lin’an Home near to ZCH’s Binjiang Campus, by providing greater privacy and comfort.  

Among the first eight families to move in was Ms. Li from Jiangsu, whose 2.5-year-old daughter is battling rhabdomyosarcoma. After her child’s first chemotherapy session on May 19, the family faced the challenge of staying in Hangzhou for daily follow-ups. “We were worried about accommodation costs until the hospital recommended Lancao Home to us,” Ms. Li said. “Everything we need is here—even rice and cooking oil are provided.”  

Beyond lodging, the program connects families with a multidisciplinary support team, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and nutritionists. ZCH treats over 1,000 pediatric cancer patients annually, 75% of whom come from outside Zhejiang.  

This initiative is more than just practical aid—it’s a testament to the power of community and compassion. In a world where medical battles are hard enough, Lancao Home offers not just a roof overhead, but dignity, hope, and the reassurance that even in their darkest hours, families are not forgotten. With each family it shelters, Lancao Home reaffirms a simple yet profound truth: in the face of adversity, kindness can be the most powerful remedy of all.