Pitching in: Leukemia survivor offers lifeline to young people coping with cancer

The organizer: Geoff Eaton

The pitch: Founding Young Adult Cancer Canada

Geoff Eaton had barely graduated from Memorial University in St. John’s in 1998 when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He was 22 years old and at one point doctors said he had less than a 2-per-cent chance of surviving.

After months of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from his father, Mr. Eaton’s health improved. At the time he was searching for an organization that offered support to young people coping with cancer. “We didn’t find anybody,” he recalled. “Young adult cancer is pretty new on the radar, and it wasn’t at all on the radar in the 2000s.”

That led Mr. Eaton to launch Young Adult Cancer Canada in 2000. The St. John’s-based charity provides a range of services to people between the ages of 15 and 39 who are living with cancer. YACC’s programs include chat groups, annual conferences, a four-day retreat and social connections. “We set out to be this national resource for these young adults,” said Mr. Eaton.

His own battle with cancer was far from over. In 2001 his Leukemia returned and he had another bone marrow transplant from his father. The transplant and treatments were a success and Mr. Eaton, now 50, is enjoying a full life with his wife and three children.

“There’s no question in my mind that I’m the luckiest person you’ve ever talked to in your life,” he said. “I’ve got a collection of miracles stacked up in my life, and I am very mindful of that.”

He’s continued to lead YACC as executive director and the charity supports nearly 8,000 young people across Canada. “Everything we do is centred on this notion of community,” he said.

YACC relies on donations, grants and sponsorships for its funding. This summer it received a major boost from the charitable arm of Spencer’s Gifts, a U.S.-based retailer with 50 outlets in Canada. Each of the Canadian stores is raising money for YACC from Aug. 20 to Sept. 13. “It’s a huge partnership for us,” said Mr. Eaton.

Mr. Eaton said his struggles with cancer have taught him that “there are good things in all of life’s challenges.”

“I really believe every win in our life is a team win, and that means at work and at home,” he added. “And YACC is a beautiful example of a team win.”