The Chad Hancock Cancer Foundation for Young Adults was established in 2005, in memory of Chad Hancock. Chad was a young adult who battled with cancer for 4 years before passing away on the 29^th of June 2004 at the age of 22.

 

During Chad's journey it became clear that whilst there was support to help some groups through their own unique experience, it became evident that there was little if any specific or relevant support to help young adults through their cancer journey. 

There are many services provided for people with breast cancer or prostate cancer and for children who are unfortunate enough to become ill. However young adults who are faced with some of the most daunting life decision such as puberty, leaving home, finding a career, starting a family and even finding their own identity have no support network to turn to when faced with life changing decisions. Physical and psychological support is an essential part of treatment and recovery from any chronic disease and the youth of our society should not be deprived of such support.

The mission of the Chad Hancock Cancer Foundation is to provide funding to assist in the development of support services and programs for young adults. We wish to continue to work with and support other charities who are working with our core age group (18 to 28) and by providing funds to various charities it is hoped that support can be provided to many young adults who are faced with not only life changing decisions but also life threatening decisions concerning their treatment and health. 

Over the time since establishment of the Foundation we have supported the following charities working with young adults:

Canteen
Canteen has already run 6 'Over 18 Revolving Recreation Days' with the focus on fun and education for young adults suffering with cancer and their support people.  A program was run in May 2010 with 28 participants.  We wish to continue to fund and support these events

 

Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation

We have commenced a fund within the W&CHF called the Chad Hancock Foundation Young Adult Support Fund to help cover every day expenses for young adults going through cancer treatment.  This fund has covered expenses like Telephone Bills, Dental Bills, Electricity Bills, Rent and even Food Vouchers.

 

Cancer Care Centre

We have supported a counselling program run by the Cancer Care Centre at Unley which provides free counselling for young adults and their families by a trained phychologist to help work through some of the issues of suffering from cancer

 

Exercise and Recovery Program

We are currently supporting an exercise and recovery program for young cancer patients through the Hampstead Centre and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.  We have also helped to furnish 2 recovery and treatment rooms specifically for AYA's located at the RAH.  These will hopefully provide a better environment for young people to receive treatment and help with their recovery.

When we first started our foundation there was little or no services for this group; however in the last 4 years since the commencement of the charity we have seen the appointment of a Cancer Care Coordinator for Adolescents & Young Adults with the Health department and a social worker appointed to specifically to deal with AYA’s and we have tried to work closely with them to raise awareness of the need for further support.

 

We have raised in excess of $180,000 and we will be running a number of fund raising events this year with our major fund raising funvtion for the next 12 months being "The Race Day" lunch on the 19th of February 2011 at Allan Scott Park Morphetville with 200 expected guests.  In Feb 2010 we raised in excess of $25,000 on the day to support young adults and we hope to be bigger and better in 2011.  

All of our committee and supporters are voluntary and all funds raised go directly to the charity.

We welcome any support you can provide and any donations will go directly to help young adults with cancer.

 

   
                            

 

          

 last updated 11th February 2011