In 2013, our mom, Jennifer Thorpe, was diagnosed with liver cancer. Throughout her treatments at Huntsman Cancer Institute, she and our dad, Greg, began doing something simple that would eventually inspire an entire nonprofit.

During each visit, they would quietly purchase gift cards for local restaurants, gas stations, and entertainment and anonymously give them to other cancer patients and caregivers they met along the way. They quickly realized that even a small act of kindness or a brief escape from the stress of cancer could make an incredible difference.

After Jennifer passed away in 2015, our family founded Just-a-Break from Cancer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to continuing her legacy. Our mission is simple: to provide physical, financial, and emotional "breaks" to cancer patients and their caregivers during one of the most difficult seasons of their lives.

Today, we're honored to continue that mission, and we're excited to invite you to be part of our biggest fundraising event of the year.

The 2026 Just-a-Break Fundraiser Luau will bring our community together for an unforgettable evening of great food, live entertainment, inspiring stories, auctions, raffles, and giving back. Every dollar raised helps provide meaningful experiences, financial relief, and moments of joy for local cancer patients and the loved ones caring for them.

There are several ways you can get involved:

Sponsor a Table
Invite your family, employees, clients, or friends to enjoy an incredible evening together, or sponsor a table for local cancer patients and caregivers so they can attend as our honored guests.

Become an Event Sponsor
Help make the evening possible by sponsoring the venue, entertainment, dinner, beverages, or other key elements of the event. Sponsorships also provide valuable exposure for your business while directly supporting local families affected by cancer.

Host a Vendor Booth
Showcase your business, products, or services while connecting with attendees and supporting a meaningful cause.

Donate Auction or Raffle Items
Gift cards, products, experiences, services, and themed baskets all help us create an exciting event while raising critical funds for our mission.

Whether you're able to sponsor, donate, volunteer, or simply attend, your support helps us continue Jennifer's legacy of bringing hope, relief, and joy to families facing cancer.

Together, we can give someone the break they need most.

Dress Code: There isn't one! Come however you're most comfortable. Hawaiian shirts, dresses, leis, and other tropical attire are encouraged to help us embrace the luau spirit.

Questions? We'd love to hear from you. Please email info@justabreak.org.

Just-a-Break Luau 2026

A night of support and inspiration to help bless the lives of local cancer patients!

Team Members