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The Dear Jack Foundation’s Breathe Now program provides transformative, multi-day wellness retreats designed specifically for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Recognizing that the emotional and relational impact of a cancer diagnosis often hits hardest after treatment slows down, Breathe Now utilizes yoga, meditation, psychosocial tools, and structured conversations to foster deep emotional healing and community.
We offer two distinct retreat formats:
Survivors Retreats for solo survivors looking to process their experience alongside peers.
Couples Retreats specifically designed to help survivors and their significant others restore balance and communication in their relationship post-cancer.
Check out our upcoming Breathe Now Wellness Retreat schedule.
The above video is from our first Breathe Now retreat in 2017. While all retreats have psychosocial support, other elements may vary.
Primary survivors must be between the ages of 18 and 39 at the time their application is submitted. If you turn 40 after submitting your application but before the retreat takes place, you remain fully eligible for that cycle. For our Couples Retreats, your romantic partner must be aged 45 or under at the time of the event.
Our Couples Retreats are designed specifically for romantic partners—including spouses, fiancés, or committed significant others—who were with the survivor from the time of diagnosis through active treatment. At this time, these retreats cannot accommodate non-romantic caregivers, siblings, parents, or friends.
Yes! We welcome international young adult cancer survivors to our retreats. Please note that while Dear Jack covers all lodging, meals, and programming costs during the retreat, participants are financially responsible for organizing and funding their own primary travel arrangements to and from the retreat destination.
Breathe Now is built for the survivorship space, meaning we want you to have enough physical and emotional distance from the acute medical crisis to safely process your experience. We ask that applicants be approximately one year post active treatment.
Yes. If you are taking long-term hormone therapies or are on a continuous maintenance protocol, you are fully eligible to apply, provided that you are at least one year past the completion of your primary intensive treatments.
Yes, absolutely. Survivors living with advanced or stage IV cancer are welcome at Breathe Now, provided your disease has been clinically stable on your current management regimen for approximately one year, and you are medically cleared to travel and engage in light physical movement.
Yes. If you are a pediatric cancer survivor who is currently within the 18–39 AYA age bracket, you are eligible to apply for our Survivors Breathe Now retreats to connect with peers who understand the lifelong impacts of facing cancer at a young age.
All participants are required to sign a standard liability and physical activity waiver upon acceptance. A formal medical clearance form from your oncology team is only required if you are currently managing stable Stage IV disease, or are actively undergoing long-term maintenance therapies or clinical trials. If you have been completely discharged from active oncological care, no doctor’s sign-off is required.
Yes! We highly encourage experiencing both formats of Breathe Now. In fact, many survivors find it helpful to experience a Survivors retreat first on their own to get a feel for the program, especially if their partner would like a bit more time to feel ready or comfortable stepping into a group retreat environment. To allow proper pacing between events, we require a minimum of 6 months to pass between attending your first retreat and participating in the alternative format.
Yes, you can fully participate in both of Dear Jack’s flagship programs! However, to ensure program equity and proper pacing for your healing, you cannot participate in both within the same 12-month period. You must wait at least one full year after your LifeList wish is completed before attending a Breathe Now retreat, or vice versa.
Alumni (individual survivors and couples) are welcome to apply to attend a Breathe Now retreat again after three years have passed. Re-attendance is subject to space availability and program capacity for that year, with priority given to those who are new to the program.
Below is a sample schedule of what a typical day may look like at a Breathe Now retreat:
*This is a sample schedule only and is subject to change.
Applications open periodically throughout the year. Please complete the interest form to be notified of future retreat opportunities.
Locations for our Breathe Now retreats change from year-to-year. We are always working to identify additional locations.
During the retreat, participants will take part in group sessions facilitated by our skilled clinicians to support them as they grow through survivorship. Our Breathe Now Retreats utilize perspectives and theories supported by acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, group therapy techniques, and targeted interventions. Participants are encouraged to acknowledge the challenges they’ve encountered, their values, and the strength they have shown during their cancer journey.
No, absolutely not. We just ask that each participant is physically able (and willing) to participate in yoga as well as the other activities, like moderate hiking.
Dear Jack will work with the retreat venue to meet each participant’s dietary requirement to the best of our ability. If accepted to attend a retreat, you will have the opportunity to submit your menu selections prior to arriving at the retreat.
Dear Jack Foundation covers all costs for the retreat with the exception of travel to and from the resort destination, rental cars, and hotel incidentals (snacks and drinks that are not part of the provided breakfast, lunch and dinner each day). Travel grants are available. Please inquire upon the acceptance of your application.
