For 11 years, Cactus Cancer Society has made it our mission to end isolation among young adults facing cancer. The Young Adult Cancer Advocate of The Year (YAAY) award honors the most dedicated, passionate, and creative leaders in our community. These individuals are changing the landscape for young adults facing cancer, and they do it with heart, courage, and a powerful commitment to blazing a path to a better future for young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Over the course of nine weeks, these inspiring candidates will raise critical funds to fuel and sustain creative coping programs that combat the loneliness, fear, and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis. But they can’t do it alone. This is where YOU come in.

Each candidate will advocate on behalf of Cactus Cancer Society’s programs that bring young adults facing cancer together at a time when they need connection and support the most. Our community will vote with their dollars for the most deserving advocate, and the candidate who receives the most support during the eight-week competition will be named the Young Adult Cancer Advocate of the Year.

Your donation is more than a vote—it’s a lifeline. Every dollar helps provide young adults with free, life-changing programs that bring comfort, creativity, and connection when they need it most. And with your support, one of these incredible advocates will earn the title of Young Adult Cancer Advocate of the Year, a recognition of their unwavering dedication to this cause.

This year’s YAAY competition will reach its culmination at our 11th birthday celebration on April 18th, 2026. It will be an unforgettable gathering that recognizes the strength, creativity, and generosity of our advocates.

Stand with these advocates. Donate. Share. Make a difference. Together, we can ensure that no young adult faces cancer alone.

Young Adult Cancer Advocate of the Year 2026

Team Leaderboard

Team Members