Young Adult Cancer Canada

Name

Young Adult Cancer Canada

Legal name

Young Adult Cancer Canada

Website

https://youngadultcancer.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Peer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops) (EDAAAFAG), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Young adult cancer support
• Peer support programs
• Cancer survivor community
• Nonprofit health services
• Cancer patient advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

St. John's

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable donations from individual supporters, processed through Zeffy donation platform. The organization holds 25th anniversary celebrations and ongoing fundraising campaigns.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors including CIBC, A&W, TELUS, and other organizations that provide financial and marketing support
3. Third-Party Events: Community-organized fundraising events including Shave for the Brave, The Climb, and various third-party events where organizers raise funds on YACC's behalf
4. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation and Health Canada for program delivery and research initiatives
5. Legacy Funds: Named memorial funds established by friends and family members to honor loved ones and support ongoing programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Young Adult Cancer Canada provides peer support programs and community for young adults (18–39) diagnosed with cancer in Canada. Offerings include digital peer-support programs (YACC Chats, Support Groups, Writing It Out!, We Get It Web Series, a private Facebook group), local social gatherings (Localife in multiple cities), and national in-person events (Survivor Conference, Retreat Yourself Adventure, National Cancer Survivors Day). Programs are delivered free or subsidized through charitable funding.

Product overview

Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of support programs for young adults diagnosed with cancer before age 40, currently between 18-39. The organization operates three program tiers: Digital Programs (YACC Chats, Support Groups, Writing It Out!, Private Facebook Group, We Get It: Web Series), Local Programs (Localife in 9 cities across Canada), and National Programs (Survivor Conference, Retreat Yourself Adventure). YACC also conducts community-led research through the Recover Study and YAC Prime Study, runs annual fundraising campaigns (Shave for the Brave, The Climb, YACC 25), and provides memorial programming through YACC Remembers. The organization connects young adults to peers, bridges isolation, and provides inspiration throughout the cancer journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Writing It Out!: A six-week therapeutic writing group providing space, community, and prompting for communicating emotions and experiences through written expression.
• Recover Study
• Shave for the Brave
• The Climb

Products and services

• YACC Chats Weekly peer-led virtual chat sessions over Zoom connecting young adults affected by cancer in safe, confidential, and supportive environments. Sessions are limited to 11 participants and include general chats, caregiver-specific chats, 2SLGBTQIA+ chats (Out With Cancer), and Advanced & Metastatic chats.
• Support Groups Eight-week virtual support group sessions over Zoom, professionally facilitated by peers with advanced mental health training. Groups address specific communities: newly diagnosed/active treatment, post-treatment/survivorship, and advanced/metastatic diagnoses.
• Writing It Out! A six-week therapeutic writing group conducted via Zoom, providing space and prompting for communicating emotions and experiences through written expression, facilitating emotional expression, empowerment, connection, and identity exploration.
• Private Facebook Group A monitored private Facebook group for over 1,000 young adults dealing with cancer in Canada, offering a supportive space to ask questions, share experiences, and connect, with topics including sexuality, relationships, and returning to work.
• We Get It: Web Series A web series of discussions with subject-matter experts or community members on issues related to the young adult cancer experience, covering topics including body image, grief, relationships, accessibility, and research.
• Localife Social activity-based groups led by YACCers in eight cities across Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, St. John's, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg), with Localife Virtual launching Fall 2026. Volunteer leaders organize casual events like wing nights and pumpkin carving.
• Survivor Conference The largest reunion of young adult cancer patients/survivors and supporters in Canada, held as a multi-day national event (four days/nights) focused on peer connection and emotional health with psychoeducation on holistic topics. Survivor Conference 2026 (In Transit) takes place November 12-15 in Toronto, ON.
• Retreat Yourself Adventure A four-day retreat focused on post-treatment recovery, empowering participants physically and mentally through adventure activities like ziplining and hiking, while providing tools and support to move forward in or beyond the cancer experience. Retreat Yourself Adventure 2026 takes place in Rocky Harbour, NL.
• National Cancer Survivors Day Annual celebration event held on June 7 across 12 cities in Canada, bringing together the YACC community for free events to honor National Cancer Survivors Day.
• Recover Study A community-led longitudinal study aiming to enroll 2,000 participants diagnosed with cancer before age 40, tracking mental, physical, social, and financial health over five years through annual surveys (30-45 minutes each) with optional interviews and focus groups. Participants receive $20 per year for survey completion.
• YAC Prime Study A national cross-sectional survey of 622 young adults diagnosed with cancer conducted in 2017 in partnership with Dr. Sheila Garland of Memorial University, examining physical, social, financial, and emotional challenges faced by young adults and comparing them to non-cancer peers.
• YACC Remembers An annual memorial program held on the last Saturday of April, featuring a ritual of drawing hearts on hands and sharing on social media with #YACCRemembers, along with group writing activities to honor community members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of young adults with cancer reported worse sleep quality in YAC Prime Study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CIBCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCIBC is listed as a partner on YACC's website, supporting the organization's mission to support young adults living with, through, and beyond cancer.
• A&WcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerA&W is listed as a partner supporting YACC's programs and initiatives.
• CrosbiesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCrosbie is listed as a partner on YACC's website.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stupid Cancer: US-based nonprofit dedicated to young adults affected by cancer, offering peer support, educational webinars, and a national community — directly comparable to YACC's mission and program mix, though operating in a larger US market.
• First Descents: Provides outdoor adventure experiences for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. Closely parallels YACC's Retreat Yourself Adventure model of multi-day adventure-based programming for the young adult cancer demographic.
• Teen Cancer America: Focused on teens and young adults with cancer, working with hospitals to develop age-appropriate care environments. Comparable to YACC's age-segmented mission and healthcare-provider partnership model.
• Lacuna Loft: Online community and programs supporting young adults facing cancer through peer connection and creative expression. Closely mirrors YACC's Writing It Out! and digital peer support approach.
• Elephants and Tea: Media and support organization for young adults affected by cancer, producing storytelling content and community programs. Comparable to YACC's We Get It web series and community storytelling initiatives.
• Cancer Hope Network: Matches cancer patients and caregivers with trained peer mentors for one-on-one support. Comparable to YACC Chats and support groups in delivering volunteer-led peer mentorship for cancer patients.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Cancer Society: Largest national cancer charity in Canada offering research funding, information, and support across all ages and cancer types. Overlaps with YACC in research funding and survivor support but at much broader scale across all demographics.
• Livestrong Foundation: US-based organization supporting cancer survivors with navigation, fertility, and emotional support services. Comparable in survivor-support focus but operates across all ages and cancer types rather than concentrating on young adults.

Emerging players

• Camp Kesem: Runs free summer camps and support programs for children and teens affected by a parent's cancer. Adjacent demographic overlap with YACC's caregiver segment and similar experiential programming model.
• True North Treks: Nonprofit offering outdoor adventure treks for young adult cancer survivors, similar to YACC's Retreat Yourself Adventure. Smaller scale but highly comparable programmatic model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/yacancercanada
• YouTubeyoutube.com/youngadultcancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/YoungAdultCancerCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-adult-cancer-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/yacancercanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Adult Cancer Canada