Teen Cancer America held an online virtual event on YouTube and Facebook Live for Teen Cancer America’s Play It Back Showcase for #GivingTuesday. The Play It Back Program pre recorded videos of them singing songs and we had a panel of AYA advocates speaking about their experience with cancer and how it has affected them. Watch event here (this event was an hour long but we had it loop 7 times which as why this link shows a 7 hour event):
Teen Cancer America partnered with Tabay Atkins, youngest yogi in the USA, and Evolving Vegan, Mena Massoud’s new book, to host a virtual cooking and wellness event for young people who are affected by cancer. The event started with a meditation and yoga class and ended with a cooking segment. It was a great turn out and everyone had a great time cooking!
A special thanks to all of our partners
This past year, we have seen incredible growth in AYA program development through collaboration. Hospitals are sharing and learning from one another in an effort to expedite program growth and enhance the services they’re able to provide young people facing cancer. Two of our hospital partners, UC Davis and UCLA, have partnered to further their impact on AYA support and education. We are so encouraged by their creativity and dedication to meeting the needs of their patients and survivors. Check-out the great work they’re doing!
Learn & Lounge is a monthly series meant to empower adolescents and young adults during cancer treatment and beyond.
The series was started in February 2021 in response to feedback from both the UC Davis Health and UCLA Health AYA Advisory Boards. Members of our AYA Advisory Boards expressed a wish for more social events to connect with one another throughout the year, in particular between the annual Pushing Past Cancer Conference co-hosted by UC Davis Health, UCLA Health, and Stupid Cancer. Since the conference is a joint effort of the two UC health systems, it made sense to continue this partnership throughout the year.
The Learn & Lounge usually starts with introductions or an icebreaker that is followed by a short educational session on a topic of interest/relevance to AYA patients and survivors (e.g. program and partner resources, work & career, sexual health, etc.). After the education session there is a social hour for patients/survivors only – no health care professionals allowed! For the social hour, participants need to be over age 18 and to have agreed to privacy and confidentiality standards.
Attendance at Learn & Lounge has ranged from 6-16 participants and initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive (formal evaluation pending). The most highly attended sessions have been those that promised to be the most fun – for example, a recent AirBnB “virtual experience” sponsored by the Northern & Southern chapters of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Post-COVID we may experiment with holding Learn & Lounge in-person in our respective parts of California; however, the value of meeting virtually is that participants can join us from wherever they are – whether in another city or town, in the hospital or out in the backyard.
Having our AYA programs partner together on Learn & Lounge helps to lessen the workload associated with planning and hosting the monthly series and assists in boosting attendance at events. It also strengthens the relationships between our AYA programs and the members of our AYA Advisory Boards, and with other organizational partners who contribute to the series. We hope that Learn & Lounge will continue to grow and be a resource in building an AYA cancer community that is accessible and supportive of all AYA patients, survivors, caregivers and partners.
We look forward to our Learn & Lounge events on Medical Marijuana and Career Coaching/Goal Setting later this summer! For more information please email: arosenbaum@ucdavis.edu or JPLeavitt@mednet.ucla.edu
TCA will provide specific information this week with partnered charities, ambassadors, and hospitals across the U.S to increase awareness.
TCA is hosting weekly game nights via Zoom to provide an opportunity for teens and young adults to connect with their peers.
This year’s LA Big 5K, Teen Cancer America had a massive 67 participants, including friends, family, and Teen Cancer America’s celebrity ambassador Wyatt Oleff, walked to raise awareness on the behalf of teens and young adults facing cancer.
Teen Cancer America and other guests hosted a private event earlier this year at the first-ever flagship store of Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Wonderland at The Grove.
Teen Cancer America is proud to announce that two of our celebrity ambassadors (with possibly a third) have signed up to run in the 2020 LA Marathon and LA Big5K.
World-renowned award-winning artist, actor, and score composer, Steven Vitali, is lending his legs and lungs to the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon to help support Teen Cancer America.
“This is not about winning or competing fast it’s about doing the best I can to help make awareness and to help raise money for Teen Cancer America, a charity I support with all my heart and will go the distance to help a dream be realized,” said Vitali. “That dream is transforming the lives of teens & young adults with cancer. Their mission is to improve the experience, outcomes, and survival of teens, and I feel honored to be chosen to their celebrity ambassador.”
Another well-known actor and Teen Cancer America celebrity ambassador, Wyatt Oleff, from blockbuster hits such as: IT, IT Chapter II, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1/Vol. 2, and upcoming Netflix series, I Am Not Okay With This will also be joining the ranks for the 3rd year representing ‘Team Wyatt’ at the 2020 LA Big 5K.
Steven Vitali is no stranger to running, and has competed and hosted two charity running events in Canada, both in Toronto, Ontario at the Hospital for Sick Kids and the Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre.
Steven is known for his chart-topping instrumental music that is known worldwide, on radio,and films. Vitali has picked up many nominations throughout his career including a People’s Choice Award Nomination in the United Kingdom.
In 2018 Steven won the Hollywood Music In Media Award for Best Instrumental 2018. He was also nominated in 2019 for his hit song, “Piano In Paris.” His talents have been represented by such companies such as Warner Bros., Capitol Records, Enigma, and Sony.
Many thanks to Steven Vitali and Wyatt Oleff’s participation in this year’s events and stay posted on possible future ambassador participation.
Teen Cancer America celebrated their first live-stream event on Giving Tuesday to help raise awareness for young people going through cancer. Funds raised will be geared toward helping create age-specific hospital programs and facilities for teens and young adults facing cancer.
Hosted at the studio of Play It Back Songs Program Manager, Kenli Mattus, the live-stream event featured original songs created by young survivors. The music program itself allows participants to create high-quality recordings of their own original songs using current song writing methods with professional producers, writers, and world-renowned music creators.