Each year, 6,000 patients come to the NIH seeking hope. They hope for a cure. And they hope that their own bravery will advance doctors’ understanding of cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and very rare diseases. While they are focused on getting well, the Friends of Patients at the NIH provides a helping hand to ensure that they have the strength to continue their fight. Patients travel from far away to the Washington area and stay for weeks or months. That’s when the Friends steps in to help them feel at home in the Washington area while also maintaining their lives back home.