Leukemia survivor founds national cancer support for young adults
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Geoff Eaton, after surviving leukemia as a young man in Canada, established Young Adult Cancer Canada to help others facing the disease.
Diagnosed with leukemia at age 22, Eaton received chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from his father, but found few resources specifically for young adults with cancer. He started the charity in 2000 to fill this gap, creating programs like chat groups, conferences, and retreats for people aged 15 to 39.
Eaton himself faced a recurrence of leukemia in 2001, undergoing a second bone marrow transplant that proved successful. Now 50 years old, he continues to lead YACC as its executive director, focusing on building a sense of community among its members. The charity currently supports almost 8,000 young people across Canada through its various programs. Recently, Young Adult Cancer Canada received financial support from Spencer’s Gifts, a U.S. retailer with stores in Canada, through fundraising efforts at its Canadian outlets.
Eaton believes his experiences with cancer have shown him the positive side of challenges, and emphasizes the importance of teamwork in both life and work, viewing YACC as a demonstration of that principle.
