Alli Shapiro-Amar
Alli’s Journey was created by Alli Shapiro-Amar, who was diagnosed with cancer at 19. During her seven-year fight, Alli and her mother, Pam Shainhouse, recognized a critical gap: young adults with cancer had nowhere to turn for the practical and emotional support they needed.
Alli launched this organization in 2006 to fill that gap. Seven weeks later, she passed away.
For 20 years, our all-volunteer Board has sustained Alli’s commitment – delivering Comfort Bags and funding Art Therapy for adolescents and young adults (13-40) facing cancer at Princess Margaret, SickKids, and Sunnybrook.
In Alli’s Words
The following was written by Alli in 2006.
Too young for a mortgage but not for cancer – life as a young cancer patient
It is hard to explain the feeling of being thrown into a tornado of emotion and change upon hearing three words. “You have cancer.” At that moment and forever on, nothing else is more important. Cancer happens spontaneously, without permission or notice. But life must go on; so now that it is here, what can be done about it?
Living with the disease is the heaviest weight one can burden. No matter how many braveries you embark upon to try and sink it, it remains buoyant, forever reminding you that you are sick. From diagnosis to doctor runaround, final action plan and confusion, fear and anger sets in without any venue for release. The truth is we are sick, we are different and no matter how we mask our sickness, society’s rose coloured glasses are constantly dyed dark red.
Alli at the inaugural event ‘Take My Hand”, June 1, 2006
Society must adjust its eyesight to see that young people living with cancer are not living apart from the rest, but searching for ways to be normal and be treated as such. It is hard to live your life when you are not sure what the next CT result will bring; it is even harder when you are reminded of the fact that you have cancer whenever someone looks at you. Youth battling cancer must bereft themselves of the constant reminder that they are sick; that is a fact they do not forget anyways.
In addition, young adults soldiering through cancer have different needs than older groups who struggle alongside. Furthermore, young adults are one of the largest segments being diagnosed and still, few outlets exist for help and guidance. The healthcare system must take a look at what support is needed and adjust their lens to fully accommodate young adults on their journey to defeat cancer.
Cancer affects everyone, not just the patient. Still, not every patient and their family gets all the help needed to beat the disease. Why is that? How do we bring upon change?
Alli’s Journey will pose all of these questions, problems and needs to help young adults fight and most importantly, beat cancer.
”For nearly 20 years, our all-volunteer Board has sustained Alli's vision. We're grateful to the donors, sponsors, hospital partners, and volunteers who make this work possible.
Pamela Shainhouse, PresidentCo-founder and Alli's mother
Board of Directors
Pamela Shainhouse, President
Jordan Shapiro, Treasurer
Riona Naidu, Secretary
Meredith Bacal
Albert La Penna
Sam Aldridge