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Back to the future — with our new crew of YACCtivists! 

By Lesley Morrissey

Is it a coincidence that Marty and Doc travel to October 21 (2015) in the 1989 film Back to the Future 2, and our new crew of YACCtivists began to gear up for their weekend of training (starting on October 22, 2021) on that same day?

Well, yes, it totally is a coincidence, but, the weekend’s training did give me a glimpse into the future — the future of young adults dealing with cancer in Canada — and this future will be brighter than it is today.

I got to meet our newest crew of YACCtivists and I know they are going to bring positive change to the lives of their peers. Don’t believe me? Read for yourself the passion and purpose these individuals are bringing to the YACCtivist team*:

“I want to be a YACCtivist to be able to give back to the community that has given so much to me. I want to help find the other 21 so that no young adult facing cancer feels alone. I want to bring awareness on how different cancer is when you are a young adult. Also, I want to make a positive impact for the next young adult faced with cancer.”

– Charlene

“To share, learn and grow with and beyond cancer.” 

– Kirsten

“I want to be a YACCtivist to make a difference. I want to find the 25-year-old version of me and help her recover quicker. Life is too beautiful to miss any more of. If we all help one person, those people help one person, and so on, then there will be a lot of bright lights spreading hope and love around, eliminating much of the darkness that cancer brings with it.”

– Nicole

“Being a YACCtivist allows me to use my cancer experience to make a positive impact in the YA cancer community. I am a YACCtivist for many reasons, but mainly so that others may not have to feel as alone as I did while dealing with a cancer diagnosis. My goal is to be raw and real; to show the good, bad, and ugly of cancer so that someone out there can know that they are not alone through this storm. Through YACC, I can be a vessel for change.”

– Michaela

“The reason I chose to be a YACCtivist is I want to help other young adults find the wonderful YACC community this will help them to feel less alone like we all have felt before we found YACC. I also want to help grow the community of great supporters by reaching out to the public and educating them through my story about AYA cancer and the difficult challenges we face every day so they are able to give their support to our community.”

– Courtney

“There are so many reasons why I am excited about this role! I want to be a YACCtivist to give back to the YACC community. This community has given me so much unconditional support and guidance that has impacted my life and overall cancer experience.”

I want to help others realize the value of peer-to-peer connection and how it can provide a light to help young adults with a cancer diagnosis navigate the darkness of isolation.”

“I want to help create more opportunities for awareness and dialogue about how we can improve the young adult cancer experience and ultimately assist in reaching an additional young adults survivors.”

“I think that the YACCtivist role will help me dive deeper into my own cancer experiences. By reflecting on this, I think I will see how through the challenges that cancer has brought me but also insight into how I have grown since my diagnosis and treatment and this will help me to move forward as I live beyond cancer.”

– Heather

During our three-day virtual training weekend, it was obvious that the stories to be told by these individuals will be powerful, relatable, and life-changing for those that hear them.

The group is filled with unique stories and perspectives, but they are all working towards a common goal: to connect together more young adults dealing with cancer, and I know they will do it.

The YACC program team was joined by three amazing facilitators: the beautiful Sharon Bray (Writing Through Cancer), the compassionate Chris Graham (Tell People), and the determined Mike Lang (Mike Lang Stories). Each of these incredible individuals brought an element of storytelling, connection, and communication with them in their own unique ways. We are grateful for each of them and look forward to working with them more in the future.

I am excited for the future, to see this group of individuals in action and to see where they will take our community.

*This is just a sample of some of the amazing motivations behind this team.

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