‘House Of Hope’ Comes Together on Ocean Barge

Virginia, a 150- x 60- x 9-ft. ocean going barge will have a unique maiden voyage. The vessel, which is temporarily docked at the New Hampshire Port Authority pier on the icy waters of the Piscataqua River is the location of Jan’s House of Hope, a modular home that will go on tour this summer to raise awareness of cancer.

NCAF, a non-profit foundation, is producing Jan’s House of Hope and setting it on a tour of seven cities along the east coast this summer. The goal of the foundation is to raise public awareness of cancer and $10 million for cancer and hospice programs. The project is being completely funded by corporate and individual donations.

Hughes Marine Firm of Edison, N.J., was completing work on the barge in dry-dock when they learned of the need for the barge. “Amazingly, it was the exact size we needed and the exact timing for our schedule,” says Chris O’Brien, NCAF marine director. Work will continue on the house until its grand public opening on June 1 in Portsmouth. Between New Hampshire and its final destination in Norfolk, VA, the House will stop in Branford, CT, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Proceeds raised in each port from public tours, donations, private parties and other events will benefit the host cancer or hospice program in that city.

Accommodations have been made for the unique location and travel itinerary of the house. Richard Landgraff of Dreadnaught Consulting, a California-based marine architectural firm, designed special strapping to stabilize the house during its voyage. Numerous safety measures were plotted to protect those who would work on the house and tour it. Although enough time was built into the tour schedule to avoid taking the house out in inclement weather, Joe Landers, one of the House’s co-producers, said, “this will be a real test for modular construction, but I’m sure it will be just fine.”

For more information on Jan’s House of Hope, visit www.janshouseofhope.com or call the National Cancer Awareness Foundation at 866-3293-3712.