We’re on a mission to raise $300,000 by 11/11 to support young adults facing cancer through Dear Jack’s LifeList, Breathe Now, and community programs.
Donate, fundraise, or spread the word to help us reach our goal and continue to support AYA cancer patients and survivors across the country.
LifeList is a wish-granting program that offers hope and support to young adults who are currently receiving treatment for a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. This program provides positive experiences to focus on during treatment and an opportunity to connect with a community of young adult patients, survivors, and advocates who have experienced similar journeys.
If you are a young adult, ages 18-39 and currently in treatment for cancer, you may qualify for the LifeList program. See below for more information regarding qualifications.
LifeList applications are currently closed. Our next application cycle will open on September 17th at 10 am MST. To receive information about the LifeList program and updates about the next application cycle, please complete the interest form.
LifeList is open to individuals who are:
*LifeList is a one-time-only program per participant.*
You must be between the ages of 18 and 39 at the exact time your Phase 1 application is submitted. If you turn 40 after your application is successfully submitted but before the selection process is complete, you remain eligible for that quarter.
LifeList is designed to support young adults navigating severe, life-altering oncology experiences. Any malignant, aggressive cancer diagnosis requiring intensive, life-disrupting medical treatments (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, or major invasive surgery) qualifies. Early-stage, highly treatable cancers that are cured solely through localized outpatient surgery (such as early-stage melanoma, localized thyroid cancer, or early-stage testicular cancer) do not meet the life-threatening criteria for this specific program. For complex, high-risk surgical interventions (such as an extensive sarcoma or a malignant tumor resection), the Phase 1 application must be submitted within 30 days of the surgery date to qualify.
Active treatment includes therapies directly aimed at treating, reducing, or eliminating the cancer cells (disease-directed treatment). This includes IV or oral chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and participation in clinical trials targeting the cancer.
Yes. Individuals living with advanced or metastatic cancer qualify for LifeList as long as they are undergoing ongoing, active disease-directed treatments to manage their disease. To ensure our resources reach those in the greatest immediate need, our medical verification process confirms that your current treatment regimen involves significant physical or psychosocial disruption to your daily life.
If you are receiving maintenance chemotherapy in addition, you qualify for the program. However, long-term hormone or endocrine therapies (such as Tamoxifen, Lupron, or aromatase inhibitors) used over several years to prevent the recurrence of cancer do not qualify as active intensive treatment. We encourage patients facing these protocols to apply during their initial surgery, radiation, or intensive chemotherapy phases. We also have retreats for survivors who are one year out of active treatment. Please go to our Breathe Now page for more information.
As long as you are actively receiving a qualifying, disease-directed treatment on the day you submit your Phase 1 application, you meet the requirement for that quarterly cycle.
Yes. Both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant patients are eligible, provided that your Phase 1 application is submitted before Day +100 of your post-transplant recovery.
Yes. Applicants who have transitioned to hospice care automatically meet our criteria and are eligible to apply, whether they are receiving disease-directed treatments or comfort-focused care. While LifeList is primarily a life-affirmative program rather than a legacy wish organization, we honor the profound choices of our community members facing terminal timelines.
No, you are not automatically excluded. We ask about prior wishes on the application because we want to understand your experience. Our team reviews these situations case-by-case during our intake process to ensure we are allocating our resources equitably, taking into account the scale, type, and timing of your previous wish.
Yes. Any applicants selected during the Phase 1 lottery are required to have a member of their oncology care team (ie oncologist, PA, NP, oncology social worker) submit a digital medical verification form that we will share as a part of the Phase 2 application.
Yes. Because we serve young adults navigating aggressive, life-threatening diagnoses, your safety is our top priority. As part of our verification process, a member of your oncology care team must confirm that you are physically and medically stable enough to safely participate in any experiences you request as part of your LifeList.
The LifeList program is open to new applications on a quarterly basis. Any applications received during the time frame listed at the top of this page will be included in a random selection. After the close of Phase 1 applications, all applicants will receive an email letting them know if they have been selected to move forward in the process or not. All application cycles will open and close at 10 am MT.
No. Citizenship or permanent residency status of any kind is not a requirement to participate. If you are an international patient who was diagnosed while visiting the U.S. or are staying here temporarily for your medical interventions, you are fully eligible as long as you are physically located here and receiving your cancer care from a medical team based in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
Our LifeList participant wishes vary from travel to technology to experiences to home goods and much more. The maximum amount of spend for each LifeList is $1,500 with an average value of $2000. Due to the unique nature of this program, the individuality of wishes and the unpredictable variance of donations, the total value may be greater and/or the total spend may be less for each participant.
LifeList program participants are an active part of the program for a total of 6 months from the date of acceptance. All LifeList wishes must be completed or ordered within those 6 months. Please be aware of your health status and the reality of being able to fulfill your requests within that time frame.
Dear Jack Foundation is unable to accept wish requests for VISA/AMEX/Amazon gift cards, cash, or financial assistance (rent, mortgage, home repairs, car payments, student loan payments, medical expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, credit card payments, etc).
While Dear Jack strives to make wishes come true, we reserve the right to deny a wish or request modifications. If Dear Jack has concerns about your wishes, we will communicate appropriately with you and work together to create the best experience for you.
The sky is nearly the limit! We encourage our participants to identify wishes that provide a meaningful boost to their quality of life. While every LifeList is unique, here are some examples of common wishes:
Travel & Experiences: Restorative trips, family getaways, or tickets to concerts and sporting events.
Technology & Gear: Laptops for school or work, high-quality cameras for creative pursuits, or gaming equipment for staying connected with friends.
Home Goods & Comfort: Upgrades to a participant’s living space, such as comfortable furniture or kitchen appliances.
Personal Growth: Enrollment in certificate courses, music lessons, or equipment to launch a personal project.
Are there any restrictions on these wishes? To ensure the program remains sustainable and impactful for as many young adults as possible, we follow a few practical guidelines:
Feasibility: All wishes must be legal, respectful of others, and physically possible to fulfill within a six-month window.
Budget & Value: Dear Jack allocates a maximum spend of $1,500 per participant. However, the total value of a LifeList may often be greater—or the direct spend less—depending on the unique nature of the wishes and the incredible generosity of our donors and partners.
Prohibited Items: Per our policy, we cannot fulfill requests for cash, gift cards (e.g., Visa, Amazon), or direct financial assistance such as rent, medical bills, or car payments.
If a participant is selected, our team works closely with them to refine their list and ensure every wish is both impactful and achievable.
Yes! We highly encourage you to utilize both of Dear Jack’s flagship programs throughout your experience. To ensure program equity and proper pacing for your healing, we require a minimum of 12 months to pass between your participation in one program and the start of the next.
Because we understand that health realities can change unexpectedly, this timeline works in both directions. If you previously attended a Breathe Now retreat during your survivorship but later experience a disease relapse or secondary diagnosis, you are fully eligible to apply for a LifeList wish to support you through your active treatment phase, provided 12 months have passed since your retreat.
