Musician Andrew McMahon’s Dear Jack Foundation Launches 10-Year Anniversary Fundraiser
DENVER, Colo. (PRWEB) July 06, 2016 -- In celebration of its 10-year anniversary,the Dear Jack Foundation (DJF) announces the launch of its fundraiser, kicking off today and running through Nov. 11, 2016. The four month campaign, titled The 100K Challenge: Dear Jack Foundation’s 10-Year Anniversary, celebrates the 501(c)(3) non-profit’s milestone of advocating for adolescents and young adults (AYA), ages 15-39, diagnosed with cancer. The DJF hopes to raise $100,000 for its programs and initiatives that target this underserved community.
As part of the campaign’s narrative, the DJF will share stories from those AYAs who are currently battling and have battled cancer. The foundation will also highlight the issues, both physical and mental, that affect AYA patients and survivors on a daily basis. With staggering statistics such as 72,000 AYAs diagnosed each year and 10,000 losing their lives to cancer, the DJF hopes to create even greater awareness on the unique challenges this community faces. Building on last year’s success of the DJF’s 72K Challenge, they hope to increase the amount of money raised from $84,000 to $100,000 to fund its adolescent and young adult cancer programs.
The campaign’s donations are driven by peer-to-peer fundraising and individual donors. Three top fundraising prizes, including a grand prize consisting of a private in-home concert by Andrew McMahon, will be awarded at the end of the campaign. Participants can also look forward to a variety of fun, interim prizes offered throughout the entire four month period. More information about the campaign and fundraising details can be found by visiting here.
In 2006 musician Andrew McMahon (previously of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin) founded DJF after he survived a battle with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). The foundation’s mission is to support initiatives and provide programming to promote positive health outcomes for AYAs from the moment they are diagnosed with cancer to survivorship.
"There is nothing to prepare you for the moment the words, ‘you have cancer’ are delivered. I was 22 when I first heard those words. I am 33 now and would be lying to say it didn't take the the last decade to wrap my head around the disease and its effects. As a young adult battling a leukemia diagnosis, I was shocked to find myself in the middle of a medical debate over whether to be treated with protocols built for children or protocols designed for adults well beyond my years,” said McMahon. "At the Dear Jack Foundation we are committed to addressing these issues through our impact now programs that help provide resources to help AYAs navigate the isolating waters of cancer - from diagnosis into survivorship."
For up to date information on the fundraiser, please visit the DJF Facebook page.
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About the Dear Jack Foundation:
Founded in 2006 by musician and leukemia survivor Andrew McMahon, the Dear Jack Foundation (DJF) advocates for and supports initiatives that directly benefit adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer. The foundation supports organizations and provides programming that address the unique challenges the AYA community faces during and post-treatment. Through outreach, collaboration, and focused initiatives, DJF works to create more positive health outcomes and improved quality of life for all young adults in this fight.
About Andrew McMahon
Andrew McMahon, of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin fame, has reinvented himself as Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness and has seen the biggest success of his 16 year career with last year’s hit single, “Cecilia and the Satellite.” Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness’ eponymous album produced the smash single, “Cecilia and the Satellite,” garnering over 19 million Spotify plays and became a Top 5 hit across both Alternative and AAA radio, Top 10 hit at Hot AC and which also climbed up the Pop chart. “Cecilia and the Satellite” found great commercial success having been featured on FOX's "Red Band Society" trailer, MTV's "Real World," and the TV promo for Warner Bros. Pictures’ film PAN. McMahon performed the single on “CONAN” and on “TODAY.” McMahon is touring North America as a special guest on Panic! At The Disco and Weezer’s co-headline tour this summer plus AMITW headline dates and festival shows including BottleRock, Laurelive and Forecastle. Aside from his professional successes, McMahon is a 10 year survivor of leukemia and founder of the Dear Jack Foundation, one of the first Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) specific cancer foundations which advocates for and supports initiatives that benefit AYAs diagnosed with cancer. McMahon lives in Southern California with his wife of 10 years Kelly and their daughter Cecilia.
Andrea Schwartz, Dear Jack Foundation, http://www.dearjackfoundation.org/, +1 303.579.7287, [email protected]
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