By Jenny Schuster
Staff Writer

Next summer, people visiting the East Coast might look out on the Atlantic Ocean and notice an odd sight — a mansion traveling south floating on a barge — and wonder what the spacious house, complete with furnishings, a landscaped yard and cars in the garage, is doing there.

The house, known as Jan's House of Hope, is being built as a fundraiser for cancer research in memory of Jan Rouleau, who passed away in October 1999 after a battle with lung cancer; she is the mother of Jason Rouleau, a senior in the School of Technology. "Basically, this fundraiser was chosen because it is so unique and would get a lot of attention so that we could get people to donate money towards its construction and housing supplies, like sinks," Rouleau said.

Kelly Romigh, a representative of the National Cancer Awareness Foundation, which is a sponsor of the house, estimated that more than 25,000 people will tour the house during its trip down the East Coast and that it will raise $10 million for community cancer awareness and hospice programs.

But the house won't just float down the East Coast, Rouleau said. Fundraising events will occur when the house docks in several major ports along the coast, such as Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Newport, R.I., and ports in Connecticut and Baltimore.

"At each port, there are going to be VIP parties and tours of the house. Plus, we'll have fashion shows to raise awareness for what people with cancer wear, such as hats and scarves." Rouleau has been helping his father with the fundraising aspect of the project by contacting local and national celebrities and cancer organizations to gain their support of the project. "I try to help whenever I can," he said.

The idea for the house was first conceived about eight months ago, Rouleau said, and fundraising for its construction began soon afterward. "Right now, it’s being built in a modular home factory in Portsmouth, N.H. It's a really big house — 3,000 square feet — so it's being built in parts, and then the different sections will be moved to the barge and secured onto it."

As the house makes its way down the East Coast, the only person aboard will be a captain who sails the barge, Rouleau said. "But the house will get to each port ahead of time in case of bad weather so they can clean it up," he said.

According to the fundraiser's official site, www.janshouseofhope.com, the fully furnished house will begin its tour around June 1, 2001, and sail until about July 29, 2001. Funds raised from house tours and other events during the tour will be donated to cancer awareness and research programs. At the end of the tour, Rouleau said, the house will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will be donated to a hospice program. In addition, Walkmans used during the summer for house tours will be donated to cancer patients at the Children's Hospital in Hanover, N.H.

• For updates on the project and more information, visit the house's Web site at www.janshouseofhope.com.

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