The Dear Jack Foundation provides impactful programs benefiting adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer and their families to improve their quality of life from treatment to survivorship.

Through programs and strategic partnerships, Dear Jack addresses the physical and emotional needs of AYA cancer patients, survivors and their families. One-on-one patient support and wellness programs allow the Dear Jack Foundation to empower patients, survivors and their caregivers in their healing and to provide assurance that they are not alone in their cancer journey.

In the spring of 2005, Andrew McMahon and his band Jack’s Mannequin embarked on their first U.S. headlining tour. Before completing the tour, Andrew paid a visit to his voice doctor in New York City due to a growing number of health concerns. The results from the blood work that came back the following morning were alarming and Andrew was quickly admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Ultimately, everyone’s worst fears were confirmed: Andrew, at the age of 23, had Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

After his diagnosis, Andrew underwent two rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and a lifesaving stem cell transplant from his sister. During his battle with ALL, it became clear that in a generation where cancer has become the second largest cause of death in the U.S. and the biggest public action item relevant to health, there were still major shortfalls in treatment, support, and research on behalf of the young adult demographic.

In an effort to initiate change and provide a voice for the generations of young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, Andrew McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation in July of 2006. Since then, the Dear Jack Foundation has served hundreds of young adult cancer patients and survivors through programs that provide support and community to a demographic far too often forgotten.