Stephanie Lawton
About
Stephanie Lawton
Washington,
DC
United States
CROWDRISING SINCE: Oct 07, 2011
Stuff About Me:
It’s not okay!
It's not okay that every 8 minutes, a young adult is diagnosed with cancer and every hour a young adult loses their battle to cancer. Cancer is now the #1 disease killer in young adults.
When I was 28 years old, I got diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. As far as I know, no one in my family has ever had cancer, and at the time I was an extremely physically active seemingly-healthy young woman who had been a vegetarian for 20 years. I didn't have friends who understood what I was going through, and having lost my mother less than two years before, I felt lost and terrified and very very alone. I spent hours searching the internet for information about my diagnosis and anything else that might help me.
One day I finally discovered the I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation, the largest support community of young adult survivors and caregivers in the US. Online at http://StupidCancer.com, they give survivors like me a voice and raise awareness for the unique issues that I face as a young adult; issues like isolation, fertility, sexuality, dating, insurance, career building and more. Their website let me know what kind of support was available for someone like me and exactly where to find it. This is the first place I would send any young adult with a cancer diagnosis.
Last year, I was lucky enough to attend their annual conference, the OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults. This is a pivotal event that brings together hundreds of young adult survivors and caregivers for a one-of-a-kind experience of healing, education and community. No one should go through cancer alone. The OMG! Cancer Summit makes this possible. I left the conference feeling strengthened and hopeful; it helped me more than anything I've done before or since.
Please support my efforts to ensure that survivors like me get the chance to attend this event and make a difference for so many thousands of young adults in need. Young adults with cancer are already dealing with health care costs, college, first jobs, new families, and countless other complications. This conference is inexpensive so that as many young adults as possible can attend, which means we need support to make it possible. No donation is too small.
In addition to making this conference possible for everyone, local chapters are competing to be the most active group and the group that raises the most money. The chapter that wins will get even more support from the I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation, and the Washington, DC chapter is full of supportive caring people who could use the boost.
In addition, there are personal incentives for individuals who are able to raise at least $500, $2000, $5000, and $7500. I'm trying to keep my goals realistic, but if anyone has any ideas for ways that I could raise more money for this amazing organization, contact me - I'm still in the process of brainstorming and could use a little help.
Thank you so much for your support!
What others have had to say about this event:
“The OMG! Summit taught me to keep fighting, be my own advocate and never give up, no matter what the doctor says.”
“Through the OMG! Summit, I made so many new connections. I can't wait to spread more awareness about young adult cancer.”
“What an amazing, life-changing and inspiring weekend.”
"I loved meeting new people at the OMG! Summit. Seeing old friends and being inspired by the enormity of our community has helped me to get buys living."
Stephanie
Lawton
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