In the heart of Amarillo’s medical district, something remarkable has taken root — not just another building in a sea of healthcare facilities, but a true sanctuary for cancer survivors. On Hagy Boulevard, the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation (HCHF) cut the ribbon on its brand-new Cancer Survivorship Center, signaling a major step forward for community-based cancer care and support.
And here’s the most extraordinary part: this $37 million facility was built debt-free — fully funded through years of careful investment income, without a single dollar of public fundraising or capital campaigns.
Why does that matter? Because it means that 100% of public donations go directly to survivor care — classes, support programs, mentoring, and more. For those who’ve fought through cancer’s physical and emotional toll, that financial structure translates to something simple but powerful: free, ongoing support without worry.
Cancer Changes Everything — This Center Helps Survivors Rebuild
When someone hears the words “you have cancer,” life changes in an instant. The focus immediately shifts to treatment, survival, and getting through the next day. But what happens when the last chemo session ends? When the scans are clear but the fear, fatigue, and emotional upheaval remain?
That’s where the Cancer Survivorship Center steps in.
The facility was created to provide holistic, long-term support for adult cancer survivors, regardless of where they were treated or what type of cancer they had. It’s not a medical center — it’s a wellness center. Here, the focus isn’t on treating cancer, but helping survivors live fully after treatment.
The center offers:
Personal training and exercise classes designed specifically for post-treatment bodies
Nutrition counseling to support healing and energy
Creative outlets like art therapy and book clubs to encourage expression and connection
Mentorship opportunities that pair new survivors with those further down the road
Community events like hiking groups, educational sessions, and social meetups
These programs are not extras — they’re essentials. Survivorship is a journey, and resources like these can mean the difference between merely surviving and truly living.
Built by the Community, For the Community
The journey to build this facility didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of collaboration, planning, and a shared vision by people across Amarillo — survivors, healthcare professionals, nonprofit partners, and donors.
“This building was paid for 100% with investment gains, without $1 of debt and without one capital campaign,” said HCHF board member Richard Mcelreath. “The truth is, we are here because of many years of effort by patients, their families, volunteers, medical professionals, donors.”
The land was donated by the Harrington Regional Medical Center, a gesture that symbolizes how deeply rooted the project is in Amarillo’s healthcare legacy. The 24 Hours in the Canyon bike race — a beloved local fundraiser held each year in Palo Duro Canyon — continues to serve as a major financial supporter for the Center’s programs.
And the impact isn’t limited to cancer survivors alone. The building also serves as a hub for other nonprofits focused on health and wellness, including:
Children’s Miracle Network
Olivia’s Angels
Second Chance Tobacco Free Amarillo
Circle of Friends
Women’s Circle
Together, these partnerships create a robust ecosystem of support that ripples throughout the region.
Survivors Leading Survivors
Perhaps the most moving part of the Center’s mission is how it’s shaped by survivors themselves.
Take Shirley Blank, a former personal trainer and cancer exercise specialist. She used to help survivors regain strength after treatment. But when she became a cancer survivor herself, her perspective shifted deeply.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” she recalls about her diagnosis. “And so I asked her, I was like, ‘why me?’ And she looked right at me and said, ‘why not you?’ And I was like, ‘uh, because I don’t want it.’ Nobody wants the C thing.”
Today, Shirley volunteers at the Center, offering support from both her professional and personal experiences.
“[The Center is] a safety,” she says. “It’s a place to have camaraderie. It’s a place to cry together. It’s a place to have fun together. You learn from each other. People who’ve already been through what you’ve been through.”
These stories are not rare. They are the heartbeat of the Survivorship Center — people turning pain into purpose, giving back to the very community that once lifted them up.
Open Doors, Open Arms
The Cancer Survivorship Center is already active and welcoming new visitors. Interested in seeing what it's all about? Tours are available every Tuesday and Thursday, no appointment necessary, and everything is free of charge.
The only requirement: you must be an adult who has received a cancer diagnosis. Whether you’re fresh out of treatment or years into remission, whether you were treated in Amarillo or across the country, the Center is here for you.
And for anyone touched by cancer — a family member, a friend, a neighbor — this space stands as a beacon of what’s possible when a community chooses to care deeply and give generously.
A Mission with No Expiration Date
Cancer isn’t going away tomorrow. In 2023 alone, the American Cancer Society estimated more than 166,000 new cancer diagnoses in Texas. That’s more than just a number. That’s thousands of lives turned upside down — and countless more family members, caregivers, and friends impacted.
But for now, the mission is clear: to give every survivor a place to find strength, support, and hope. And in Amarillo, that mission now has a home.
To learn more, visit the Cancer Survivorship Center in person at 1732 Hagy Blvd. or explore their schedule and programs on their website. Whether you’re a survivor, a caregiver, or a supporter, there’s a place for you here.
