Ground was broken this morning for a forthcoming AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Cheltenham, Pa. The 30,000-square-foot facility will become one of nearly two dozen such outposts run by the American Cancer Society, and house about 1,300 people who travel to Philadelphia for outpatient cancer treatment.

Certainly, this is a nice idea for cancer patients, who may already be struggling with insurance or transportation. There will be three dozen private guest suites and access to a community living room, dining room, kitchen, library, exercise room and laundry facilities. To make it happen, AstraZeneca is providing a $2 million ‘naming gift.

“Patients are at the center of everything we do at AstraZeneca,” says Tony Zook, the drugmaker’s US ceo. “This new facility, along with the first AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston currently under construction, is testament to our primary mission of making healthcare a more meaningful and personal experience.”

No mention, though, if pink cupcakes will be offered in the kitchen. You recall those, don’t you? Just in time for this past Mother’s Day, AstraZeneca hatched a scheme to serve the goodies in chemotherapy injection areas as a way to promote its cancer meds.

Which giveaways might be suitable for the lodges?

Source: AstraZeneca statement.[tags]AstraZeneca[/tags]