Help us reach our goal of raising $300,000 by November 11, 2024
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 Q4 of 2024 are now open. Phase 1 applications will be accepted until September 26th at 10 am MST. To be eligible for Q4 of the program, you must submit a Phase 1 application prior to that day/time.
LifeList has a limited capacity and any eligible phase 1 applicants will be entered into a randomized selection process. You will receive an email by the end of the day on September 26th, letting you know if you have been selected to move forward in the process. If selected to move forward, you will be required to complete a more comprehensive application within 72 hours.
The LifeList program serves cancer patients who are between the ages of 18-39 who are currently receiving medical treatment to address an active cancer diagnosis.
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.
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.
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.
"My cancer DOES NOT define me! I am still me and look forward to being accepted as I am"
"Every day I just hope I'm one day closer to getting back to a little bit of normalcy"
"Emotionally it takes a toll on me when I can see my son misses the healthy version of myself"
"I balance hope and optimism on one hand and the reality of the situation (including very grim statistics) on the other"
"I often think about my children growing old without me and it breaks my heart to think about them not having a mother. "
"“It’s difficult not being able to care for my children like I used to. I am determined to stay strong for my family.” "
"Cancer feels like it puts limits on what I can accomplish in my career and in life"
"I feel in certain aspects that cancer has put my life on pause and as if my twenties have been taken away from me."
"I was just starting to get settled in during my first semester of college when I had to leave my classes, friends, and job behind to move back home to begin my treatment. It was very difficult at times to only get to talk to my friends over the..."
"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."
"I struggle with not being healthy enough to have the energy that most people my age have"
"“The doctors were only going to clear my sinus infection. Instead they found cancer.”"
"Cancer is so scary. I want my hair back and I want to just be a normal kid. I don't want cancer to be my defining characteristic. I just want to be Gabbie again"
"“I was diagnosed a month before my daughter's 2nd birthday and that was the one thing I thought about when they told me I had cancer.”"
"“I’ve spent the last year in ‘fight or flight’ mode, barely processing my own feelings, and finding this community means I'm not alone anymore.” "
"Having to tell your children you have cancer is impossible. You never want to see them hurt"
"“It’s been difficult not being able to do what I wanted to do after high school and go play college football.” "
"“Not being able to live life as a young adult and travel with my friends like I had planned is difficult.”"
"“The isolation and loneliness of the situation is so difficult. Everyone can try to understand, but unfortunately it’s something you have to go through to understand.” "
"“Being a young adult with cancer definitely has its own unique challenges. It feels like I don’t fit into many programs, as I’m either too old or too young.” "
"One of the most difficult aspects of this has been learning how to navigate the healthcare system and advocate for myself as a patient."
"“I have a great job, and I cannot afford to not work given rent and childcare payments. However, it is difficult to continue to try to work full time while experiencing the side effects of chemotherapy.” "
"All I can do is push forward and live each day with extreme gratitude that I am still here "
"It has been so hard to watch all my friends and the people around me kind of move on without me."
"One of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life was to have to share my diagnosis with my children"
"“As a very social and outgoing person, it is difficult to not be able to socialize with my friends for long periods of time.”"
"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."
"“It tears your heart to realize that the odds are against you being present for your child when they need you as they grow up.” "
"I’m not able to be around my teammates or my friends due to my weak immune system. The isolation and withdrawal from society is extremely difficult"
"The difficulty lies not just in battling cancer itself, but in navigating the myriad emotional, social, and professional challenges that accompany it"
"It’s so difficult being young and having ‘old people cancer’ - the stares in the treatment center waiting room, nurses my age pumping me full of chemo, and the reality of my prognosis"
"Since my diagnosis, I’ve learned to give myself grace and take it one day at a time"
"I don't plan on giving up anytime soon but there are certainly days where that seems like a reasonable option"
"It’s quite an adjustment being young and watching your health decline. There’s not much you can do because it has to get worse before it can get better, so you just keep pushing through"
"“I’ve lost the ability to work which financially hinders our family and takes away the opportunity for me to meet new people.”"
"Because I have a childhood cancer but I'm 18, there is nobody and nothing for me to relate to and I feel alone."
"It's been extremely difficult and emotional for me to have to see the reactions of those closest to me to my cancer diagnosis "
"It’s been difficult thinking how I’m young and battling this terrible illness that I never thought could happen to me"
