About Us
Who Was Pete?
In 1998, my husband Pete was diagnosed with cancer, and in 1999 he passed away. The time between his diagnosis and death was brief, but deeply meaningful—and it changed the course of my life forever.
During Pete’s illness, we experienced what so many families face: exhaustion, fear, uncertainty, and emotional strain. As his caregiver and wife, I often felt overwhelmed and alone. But in the midst of treatment, we were given the gift of respite through the generosity of family and friends.
That time away allowed us to simply be together again. We rediscovered joy, strength, and connection beyond cancer. We were no longer defined by the disease. Our experience strengthened Pete’s spirit and gave us both the ability to face what came next with more clarity and love.
Before he passed, Pete asked that other families have the same opportunity we were given. I made a promise to him to bring that vision to life, and I have dedicated my life to fulfilling it. For over two decades, FPS has provided Respite Experiences to families facing cancer, and now, thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are breaking ground on the nation’s first-of-its-kind cancer respite center. We are expanding our capacity and building a space for families to heal, a place that will remain steadfast, a place that will welcome thousands of people through its doors each year.
View the video below to capture our history and look towards our future!
Pete enjoying sailing, one of his favorite hobbies in Sea Isle City, NJ
Pete and Marci on respite in Nevis prior to his passing
FPS Founder and CEO
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Meet Marci, our Founder & CEO
Marci Schankweiler is Founder & CEO of For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation (FPS). FPS was founded after Marci lost her husband, Pete, to testicular cancer at the age of 30. Marci used this devastating moment to pause, pivot and change the direction of her life. As a tax attorney and litigator, she used her unique business skills, coupled with her emotional insight as a caregiver, to launch a non-profit inspired by Pete.
Our Mission
For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation enables cancer patients and their loved ones to strengthen, deepen and unify their relationships by creating unforgettable and lasting Respite Experiences.
Working with oncology professionals at over 100 hospitals and cancer centers, FPS provides transformative Respite Experiences to cancer patients (ages 21-55), their caregivers and their children and offers our families emotional support that assists them as their journey with cancer continues. Our respite program helps families recognize it is love, not cancer, that defines them.
Pete’s Dream in Action
Our Cancer Respite Program includes two forms, the Travel Respite and the Staycation Respite. Both experiences are transformative and address the emotional, psychosocial, financial, physical and spiritual traumas that families confront with a cancer diagnosis. Our Cancer Respite Program complements traditional treatment and the Respite Experience plays a crucial role in the patient continuum of care.
FPS works with oncology professionals at leading cancer centers to create these care-free, cost-free respite experiences for an underserved patient population. Patients (ages 21-55 and nominated by a member of their oncology team), caregivers and their children receive a Travel Respite Experience, or if they are unable to travel due to advanced stage cancer, they receive a Staycation Respite Experience in their own home. Both forms of respite will forever change lives.
For families in the FPS program, we offer Respite Reinforced programs that provide ongoing support beyond the respite that assists them as their journey with cancer continues.
In 2027, we expect to open the nation’s first-of-its-kind cancer respite center adjacent to Woodloch Resort. This endeavor will help us increase our capacity and further refine our life-changing programming.
Join us as we help hundreds of people take a break from cancer each year!
