A unique project is underway in the Sioux Falls area aimed at helping those battling cancer, and raising awareness about what they're going through. Tonight we give you a preview of a special program you can see right here on KSFY called "River of Hope".

Bill Connor is well-known in this community as the owner of Prairie Coach Trailways in Dell Rapids. But he's also been battling leukemia since 2004: a diagnosis that came soon after Bill's 24 year old son died of brain cancer. A bone marrow transplant helped Bill battle back, but now, he's once again in the hospital. Bill's story is similar to many in the Sioux Falls community.

But on Thursday night it will the be subject of a special program called "River of Hope". It's one of 4 projects planned by the River of Hope Foundation. Nathan Heinert is the president. He says, "This just started off as something I wanted to do for a friend of mine that was struggling with cancer."

But it grew into something much bigger. River of Hope's website outlines the foundation's mission. The non-profit group wants to do four projects over the next year.

Heinert says, "We're looking for nominations to go into a patient's residence or if they choose, a place in their community where we can do kind of a healing area for them to benefit them." The idea is to use nature, and some type of water feature in each project.

That's just what they did for Bill Connor, hoping to bring him some peace in the midst of this battle for his life. Heinert says, "Watching things grow and being able to hear that water and hopefully he'll be able to relax through that."

You can see how landscapers and other businesses donated their time and effort to create a healing area for Bill Connor on "River of Hope."  It airs Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. right here on KSFY.  To learn more about the foundation and nominate someone for the next project click here.