New Mary's Place helps more women with cancer

OCEAN GROVE - Since 2009, Mary’s Place by the Sea has been a place where women with cancer could relax and recuperate from treatment.

Now, the Ocean Grove-based nonprofit is getting ready to open its new $2.7 million facility that will be able to accommodate about 375 more daytime guests and about 150 more overnight guests per month, said Michele Gannon, co-founder and president of the organization.

Mary’s Place offers reflexology, oncology massages, a spa, meditation, counseling and other services for free to women undergoing cancer treatment. It’s a place where women can feel “completely loved” and get the unconditional care they need, said Melanie Knobel, a media spokeswoman for the organization.

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The new house on Main Avenue is expected to open in May, and will feature 10 guest bedrooms, a yoga studio, an education room, a kitchen where women can get nutrition counseling and a spa, Gannon said.

The old facility on Broadway in Ocean Grove was a four-bedroom house with about 2,000 square feet of space the nonprofit had been renting since it first opened. The new facility, which Mary's Place owns, is about 9,000 square feet, Gannon said.

“We were renting space and we outgrew it,” Knobel said. “We had way too long of a waiting list. Obviously if someone calls you with stage four lung cancer, you don’t want to tell them the next open appointment is in two months.”

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The 18-month project was funded in part with a loan and in part by donors, Gannon said. The lease on the old facility was up in February and only offered limited services since then, but they’re expecting to open the house to guests starting in May.

The organization still has to raise about $200,000 to ensure that services stay free for women, Gannon said. The nonprofit is planning a walk-a-thon in May.

To donate or find out more information, visit www.marysplacebythesea.org or call 732-455-5344.

Kala Kachmar: 732-643-4061; kkachmar@gannettnj.com.