UNC program helps young adults cope with cancer diagnosis
>>> A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS NEVER
EASY, BUT IT CAN BE CHALLENGING
FOR ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG
ADULTS.
BUT, A SPECIAL PERSON HELPS
PEOPLE COPE WITH A NEW REALITY.
THIS IS LAUREN LUCK.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOPHIE
STEIN WHO INSPIRED THIS
PROGRAM, DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER
2012 AND DIED A YEAR LATER, AND
SHE REALLY WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT WAS
BEING DONE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
CANCER?
>> SHE DID.
AS A WAY OF HONORING HER LEGACY
AND HER VISION, HER FAMILY
STARTED THE BE LOUD SOPHIE
FOUNDATION.
THEY DECIDED TO CREATE THE
POSITION, AND I HOLD THE
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT UNC, WE'VE
BEEN ON THE JOB FOR ABOUT TWO
YEARS AND COME A LONG WAY ON
HOW WE'RE TAKING CARE OF
PATIENTS AT UNC AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> YOU'VE HAD FUNDRAISERS
RANGING FROM LEMONADE STANDS TO
MAJOR CONCERTS.
>> YEAH, THEY'LL SAY THAT A LOT
OF THE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN RAISED
THAT COME FROM 25 TO 50, $100
CHECKS THEY'RE RECEIVING,
THEY'VE RAISED $700,000.
>> SOPHIE ENJOYED MUSIC AND YOU
HAVE GREAT MUSIC COMING UP
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, DRIVING AND
CRYING WILL BE PLAYING TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT GROUP
TOMORROW NIGHT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC
AND THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND
ALL OF THE GOOD LIFE AND ALL OF
THE GOOD PEOPLE.
>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO FOR
MUSIC, THE CAT'S CRADLE.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU
GENERATED SO FAR.
IS THE MUSIC ELEMENT A HUGE
PART OF IT?
>> IT'S A HUGE PART OF THE
MONEY RAISED EACH YEAR FOR THE
PROGRAM.
WE'VE RAISED $700,000 FOR THE
LAST FEW YEARS, ALL OF THE
MONEY GOES TO SUPPORT THE
PROGRAM AT UNC AND IT SERVES
ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT
PATIENTS, WE WORK AND SEE HOW
THEY CAN MAKE CANCER A PART OF
THEIR LIFE, NOT THEIR WHOLE
LIFE, WE HAVE EXPANDED THE TEAM
FOR A YOUNG ADULT AND MEDICAL
DIRECTOR.
WE HOPE OUR TEAM WILL BE
GETTING LARGER.
>> WHAT HAS THIS MEANT FOR YOU
PERSONALLY?
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE
ONCOLOGY WORLD, I'M A SOCIAL
WORKER FOR A LONG TIME.
I WAS DRAWN TO IT INITIALLY, MY
MOM WAS A ADOLESCENT AND
DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
I SAW THE IMPACT PROVIDERS
COULD HAVE ON PATIENTS AND
FAMILIES.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO, WHAT I
FEEL LIKE, FUEL THE FLAME THAT