Senator Cooney Jumpstarts Groundbreaking Initiative To Support Young People With Cancer

(Rochester, NY) - 13thirty Cancer Connect, a local nonprofit, received a generous $10,000 donation from New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, demonstrating his commitment to young people with cancer in our community and helping to jump start an important new initiative by the organization.

Over the next three years, 13thirty Cancer Connect will develop a centralized supportive care network of AYA cancer-trained providers. This multi-year project will include an accredited, educational curriculum for healthcare providers and multi-disciplinary practitioners from whom young people with cancer require specialized supportive care. Adolescents and young adults with cancer will be able to find care appropriate for their diverse needs through an easily accessible network portal. With an anticipated total cost for this three-year initiative approximating $250,000, this funding from Senator Cooney will help get the project off the ground in 2025.

Senator Cooney is proud to deliver funding to 13thirty Cancer Connect. “When our adolescents and young adults need it most, 13thirty is there to provide support, a sense of community, and hope. That’s why I made it a priority to support their efforts and why I’m excited that this funding will go towards their new initiative. This project will connect those with cancer to the care they need, continuing the life-changing and powerful work 13thirty performs each and every day.”

For over 20 years, 13thirty Cancer Connect has heightened awareness and pioneered crucial resources to meet the difficult challenges of cancer at this age, including a wide range of free peer support programs offered at Centers in Rochester and Syracuse where young people build meaningful connections with others who understand. With approximately 5,500 AYAs with cancer living in New York State and the incidence of early on-set cancer rising at an alarming rate, this next project is essential.

“We are deeply grateful to Senator Cooney for his generosity, which will allow us to take the first steps toward supporting more AYAs across our state,” said Lauren Spiker, founder and executive director of 13thirty Cancer Connect. “This is just the beginning. We hope to inspire further support from our state leaders to fully fund this project, which is crucial to ensuring every young person with cancer has access to the specialized care they need.”

For more information, please visit 13thirty.org and follow 13thirty Cancer Connect on social media. Senator Cooney, 13thirty staff, and 13thirty members will be available for interviews at the press conference.

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