Background

Vision

To eliminate the isolation for young adults with cancer.

Mission

To help every young adult dealing with cancer in Canada by providing inspiration, information and support.

Values

These are not just a collection of warm-fuzzy value statements, they represent the combined energy, of heart and mind with which we approach our responsibilities and use as our guide through challenge and triumph.

Hope - We were founded on hope and from an experience that at times appeared to have no hope. Our very existence gives hope to others. We will always remember that our energy and actions can have a profound impact on others and that we all are messengers of hope regardless of our position within the organization or the task we are performing.

Independence - We have always been a financially independent organization with diversified sources of funding, this allows us truly authentic decision making and control over our growth and development ensuring that the needs of young adults with cancer are met in a manner we feel is most effective.

Service - We aim to provide the best possible experience for those that deal with us, whether they are young adults using our programs, donors supporting our programs or volunteers helping in any variety of ways. It is paramount these stakeholders have a positive experience and our duty to ensure it.

Integrity - Our every decision and action is guided by our belief in the value of personal and organizational integrity. We do the right thing, no matter what, and take full responsibility for it.

Transparency - We believe we are responsible to appropriately allocate our human and financial resources and to provide an annual operational and financial report to our donors, program partners, the young adults we serve and the community at large.

Goals

1. Build a sustainable organization that helps generations of Canadian young adult cancer patients and survivors deal with cancer.
2. Establish a national presence through programs, communications, fund development and administrative activity.

Objectives

1. Develop three strategic partnerships with regional/national corporate sponsors, including at least one media partner, to enhance fund development activities by the end of 2010.
2. Develop a survivor champions network with presence in five provinces to increase awareness of young adult cancer issues and YACC programs within those provinces and nationally by end of 2010.
3. Deliver locally/provincially focused workshops in five provinces by 2011, to complement existing regionally and nationally focused support initiatives.
4. Restructure the Board of Directors to include at least 4 non-Newfoundland and Labrador based members to expand the organization’s network by end of 2011.
5. Establish activity levels in western and central Canada that will support the opening of an office by 2013.
6. Grow the Shave for the Brave by adding an event in one new market per year through 2013, five new markets in total.
7. Raise at least $1,400,000 by end of 2013.

History

Young Adult Cancer Canada was established in 2000 [originally as RealTime Cancer] by Geoff Eaton, after his first cancer challenge. Geoff's vision focused on educating and supporting young adults. At the core of that vision was the belief that cancer, like all of life's challenges, brings with it valuable lessons and experiences. For the first three years of operation, which included a cancer relapse and additional treatment for Geoff, Young Adult Cancer Canada remained focused on the school program and delivery of positive messages to young adults. During a meeting with a mentor on the morning of the 2003 golf tournament, Geoff began a process that would fundamentally change the vision and operations of Young Adult Cancer Canada while keeping the values and beliefs fully intact.

Young Adult Cancer Canada research revealed that over 6,500 young adults were diagnosed in Canada each year, that their survival rates were virtually unchanged since the 1970’s and that most importantly there were no readily available and relevant support programs to help young adults with cancer deal with the very unique issues they face. Life is different in your teens, 20’s and 30’s, just makes sense it’s different with cancer too. Young adults with cancer need and deserve an organization wholly focused on providing customized support programs to help them deal with their cancer experience. Given there was not one organization in Canada with this as its focus the vision was obvious; Young Adult Cancer Canada had to be that national cancer organization providing resources for young adults looking for inspiration, information and support.

In February 2004, the RealTime Cancer Community, a web-based peer support tool, was launched; the site shares stories of young adult survivors and supporters and facilitates their connection. With the launch of the site, Young Adult Cancer Canada developed partnerships with cancer centers and community organizations to aid with promotion. The RealTime Cancer Community continues to grow and provide essential positive messages to users of the site.

By late 2004, Young Adult Cancer Canada began to explore the delivery of its first retreat. Retreat Yourself 2005 was hosted in Newfoundland and Labrador, Geoff summarized the event appropriately when saying, "It was the most significant thing we've ever done." As a result of Retreat Yourself promotion, Young Adult Cancer Canada now maintains relationships with cancer partners in every Canadian province and the Retreat Yourself program remains an annual event with participation from patients, survivors and supporters from all regions of Canada.

Today, Young Adult Cancer Canada is focused on the promotion and evolution of its four primary programs: the RealTime Cancer Community, Retreat Yourself, the annual Survivor Conference and Touch Yourself, Trust Yourself, as well as the continued growth of the organization. Currently, Young Adult Cancer Canada is based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, with an office team of six; plans for program growth and physical expansion well laid out in the 2009-2013 Strategic Plan approved by the Board of Directors in the Fall of 2008.

If you'd like, you can download our full strategic plan as a PDF.