LifeList

Programs

Hope During a Difficult Time

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, currently in treatment for cancer, you may qualify for the LifeList program.


LifeList applications for Q2 of 2024 are now closed. Our next application cycle will open on June 20th at 10 am MST. To receive information about the LifeList program and updates about the next application cycle, please complete the interest form.

INTEREST FORM

LifeList Program Eligibility:

The LifeList program serves cancer patients who are between the ages of 18-39, currently receiving active treatment, and meet one of the following criteria:

  • Within one year of primary cancer diagnosis
  • Recently experienced a relapse of a primary cancer or received a secondary cancer diagnosis
  • Enrolled in a clinical trial where standard treatment protocols have proven unsuccessful

INTEREST FORM

LifeList Program Guideline FAQs

How does a young adult cancer patient apply to be part of the LifeList program?

The LifeList program is open to new applications on a quarterly basis. The dates for 2024 are below. Any applications received during the listed time frames will be included in a random selection. On the close of application day, 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.

  • Q1: December 28th, 2023 – January 4th, 2024
  • Q2: March 21st – March 28th, 2024
  • Q3: June 20th – June 27th, 2024
  • Q4: September 19th – 26th, 2024
What type of questions will I have to answer for the application?
For the first phase of the application process, you will need to provide demographic information, a paragraph or two about your cancer story (age, date of diagnosis, treatment history, etc.), and your current treatment plan/status.
If you are selected to move forward in the process, the second phase of the application process will include the above and also ask the following.
  • What’s been one of the most difficult aspects of being a young adult and having cancer?
  • What are you most looking forward to if you are accepted into the Dear Jack LifeList program?
  • Who would you like to give a shout out to for being by your side since diagnosis and why?
  • What is one interesting fact about you that is not cancer related?
What is the total value for a LifeList participant wish? 

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. We have some incredible corporate partners who periodically donate to help us with wishes and may contribute to the overall value of a LifeList wish. 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.

What is the timeline for program participation?

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.

What is Dear Jack Foundation's policy for wishes that include financial assistance and/or gift cards?

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.

Meet Our LifeList Participants

Active Program Participants

Alexander
Aly
Alyson
Alyssa
Andrew
Athena
Brittany
Brooke
Carter
Chelsea
Crysal
Doug
Emily
Emily
Gabby
Gus
Jack
Jadyn
Jamie
Jean
Joseph
Joseph
Karri
Kasey
Katie
Kayla
Kendall
Kiana
Kim
Kristi
Kyle
Lisa
Maliek
Marianella
Michelle
Mieisha
Nelly
Nikki
Nikkole
Peter
Quincee
Sarah
Sharon
Shelby
Staci
Stephanie
Tatiana
Tiffany
Tomas
Treyvon
Tricia
Alexander

"Sometimes life has its curveballs, but you can live a meaningful life where you can accomplish all your dreams despite your diagnosis"

Full Story
Aly

"It’s really hard to watch all my friends around having kids and getting married when I’m not sure if I will ever be able to. "

Full Story
Alyson

"It's a unique challenge to grapple with such a serious illness at a stage in life when you're supposed to be full of dreams and possibilities, but I'm determined to find strength in this adversity and continue moving forward with hope"

Full Story
Alyssa

"Going through treatment while everyone around you lives their normal lives sucks. It’s hard."

Full Story
Andrew

"I balance hope and optimism on one hand and the reality of the situation (including very grim statistics) on the other"

Full Story
Athena

"A luxury a lot of young adults take for granted is being able to deprioritize their health without major consequences. I really miss being able to just know and plan things out"

Full Story
Brittany

"Having a young child, you don't want to scare them and you know you have to stay strong for them"

Full Story
Brooke

"I feel like I have barely gotten any time to just live a normal life. I have spent so much time being sick and in hospitals and not getting to enjoy life with my family "

Full Story
Carter

"When I was in the hospital, I would watch videos of places around the world that I would want to visit and experience. I knew that one way or another I was going to get to those places"

Full Story
Chelsea

"I am looking forward to being a part of a cohort of other strong and resilient young adults who are facing similar situations. We all have the same struggles and finding Dear Jack made me feel less alone in this fight with cancer."

Full Story
Crysal

"The hardest part has been being dismissed due to my young age."

Full Story
Doug

"Cancer is a constant reminder that you can’t control anything in life other than your attitude and how you handle what is thrown at you"

Full Story
Emily

"I'm at the age when many friends and coworkers are having children, and while I'm happy for them, I'm also envious that I'm not able to have children at this time"

Full Story
Emily

"I don't know what life has in store for me but as of now I try to live each day as if it were my last."

Full Story
Gabby

"I have missed out on a lot of experiences over this past year."

Full Story
Gus

"I'm not in college and working towards what I want to do in life"

Full Story
Jack

"Shaping my thoughts into words has been a tough thing for me"

Full Story
Jadyn

"I fight with everything I have"

Full Story
Jamie

"This has been the hardest year of my life mentally and physically. "

Full Story
Jean

"Because I'm not married and don't have my own kids, sometimes I feel 'behind' when I compare myself to my peers."

Full Story
Joseph

"I needed to stop asking myself, 'why me?' and instead begin asking 'how is this making me a better human being?' and 'what lessons are being taught here?'"

Full Story
Joseph

"I’m looking forward to having something to look forward to that is not cancer related"

Full Story
Karri

"It’s okay to grieve the person you were before diagnosis because you’ll never be that person again. And it’s okay to learn to love the person you’re becoming. Grief and love can coincide with each other."

Full Story
Kasey

"It’s difficult knowing that I won’t be able to have children of my own."

Full Story
Katie

"I’m looking forward to being able to recover and continue on doing what I love to do"

Full Story
Kayla

"It is hard to manage working full time and being a parent through surgery, recovery, and chemo"

Full Story
Kendall

"The burden of strained or lost connections during an already terrifying health crisis results in deep loneliness."

Full Story
Kiana

"I feel as if I am watching others in my age group live out their dreams and experiences and I have to put my dreams and goals on hold to prioritize my health."

Full Story
Kim

"This journey has truly tested me physically and emotionally"

Full Story
Kristi

"Life just moves on without you and it's really hard to have to watch all your friends and coworkers get to keep working and doing what they love when you have to stop doing that to try to fight for your life."

Full Story
Kyle

"One of the most difficult aspects of this has been learning how to navigate the healthcare system and advocate for myself as a patient."

Full Story
Lisa

"Being told I'm incurable and researching statistics made a huge, negative impact on my mental health."

Full Story
Maliek

"The isolation is so hard. The best way I can describe it is the feeling of wanting to be saved while adrift in a vast and unyielding ocean."

Full Story
Marianella

"I just want to beat this thing for my daughter, my partner and my family."

Full Story
Michelle

"It has been so hard to watch all my friends and the people around me kind of move on without me."

Full Story
Mieisha

"For all the times I was very weak and unable to cook or clean for myself my mom ensured I was well taken care of"

Full Story
Nelly

"I was forced to stop my education to focus on my health"

Full Story
Nikki

"I’ve been hurt by so many people through all of this, that being a part of this program brought me to tears. I’m so thankful for good people"

Full Story
Nikkole

"All I want is to do something normal and receive some happiness. I am looking forward to creating a happy memory."

Full Story
Peter

"My biggest fear during this whole ordeal has been the thought that I might my daughter fatherless."

Full Story
Quincee

"I had a taste of being cancer free and life being “normal” again. I’m having a hard time coping with going back to all the doctor visits and restrictions. It’s mentally draining."

Full Story
Sarah

"I’m looking forward to having something to look forward to!"

Full Story
Sharon

"I know it does not seem like a big deal to many but I personally love being around my kids because you never know how much time you have left to make those memories."

Full Story
Shelby

"Because I have a childhood cancer but I'm 18, there is nobody and nothing for me to relate to and I feel alone."

Full Story
Staci

"This has been an insanely difficult time of my life."

Full Story
Stephanie

"My husband and I were looking forward to starting a family prior to my diagnosis. It has been tough not knowing when/how/if we will be able to have children."

Full Story
Tatiana

"I’m too sick to take care of my baby the way that I want to"

Full Story
Tiffany

"You've got this constant fear about the future and it's like always living with a dark cloud over your head"

Full Story
Tomas

"I can’t do anything to reach all the goals that I had planned"

Full Story
Treyvon

"I’m very independent by nature and I like being able to do things on my own, so asking for help for the more mundane things is pretty embarrassing and difficult for me to do."

Full Story
Tricia

"It's also very hard to see people my age traveling and enjoying their life as my days are spent at John Stoddard Cancer Center "

Full Story