Teens and young adults have many challenges in this world. They are starting things like high school, college, and their first real job. The stress of peer pressure alone can be enough to make some crumble. Add a cancer diagnosis and this group can often find themselves isolated and unsure of where to turn. 13thirty Cancer Connect is unlike most cancer support organizations. They concentrate efforts on a targeted national problem that affects approximately 89,000 young people in the US each year. Executive Director, Lauren Spiker, founded this organization because her daughter Melissa’s last request was that her mother uses what she had learned to “make a difference, to make things better." Melissa’s legacy is a community of supporters that make huge impacts in the lives of young adults and their families. Join host Nick Koziol with guests Lauren Spiker and Steve Esposito (13thirty Cancer Connect, Program Director) to learn more about how this terrific organization makes a difference.
About 13thirty Cancer Connect
13thirty Cancer Connect, Inc. is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 2001 following the death of Melissa Sengbusch who was 19 years old when she died of acute myeloid leukemia. Since its beginning (first called Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation), 13thirty has become an internationally known and respected leader in the field of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer because of our strong passion, clear vision, and steadfast commitment to a singular focus – teens and young adults with cancer.
Unlike many other cancer support organizations, we concentrate our efforts and resources on a targeted national problem that affects approximately 89,000 young people in the United States each year. As Melissa asked of her mom, we are making a difference. We are making things better for teens and young adults with cancer around the world.
Connect with Lauren Spiker, Executive Director/Founder
Connect with Steve Esposito, Program Director