Say hello to Team Next Step! Thank you to Matthew Hamilton and Paul Furer for volunteering to run the 124th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2020 for Next Step! Matt and Paul are running the historic marathon to help Next Step raise awareness about our important mission and to help fund our free year-round programming for for seriously ill young people, ages 16-29, who are living with cancer, HIV and rare genetic disorders.
PLEASE DONATE
Donate to Team Next Step so that we can welcome more seriously ill young people into the Next Step community and empower them to start asking "What's Next?" instead of "Why me?" Any amount helps!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
Your generous donation and support of Next Step will help us grow a bigger and stronger community for teens and young adults living with cancer, HIV and rare genetic disorders. We could not do this important work without your thoughtful support!
We also want to thank the life-changing John Hancock Marathon Nonprofit Program for welcoming Next Step back for a seventh year in a row!
WHY NEXT STEP?
As a result of advances in medical treatment over the past twenty years, the number of young people in the United States who are surviving chronic illnesses has nearly doubled. While the survival rates should be celebrated, aggressive medical treatment can have significant impact on the health, social and professional lives of young people living suffering from chronic illness. Problems with growth and development, fertility, language and learning disabilities, mental health issues, and other severe health complications can make the transition to adulthood and independent living seem overwhelming and next to impossible for many young people.
Resources to help these young people become successful adults are scarce. The need for Next Step programming is profound and the impact is powerful!
OUR PROGRAMS & IMPACT
At Next Step, our mission is to shatter limitations and elevate aspirations of teens and young adults living with cancer, HIV and rare genetic disorders. Next Step provides free year-round community, music therapy and mentorship programs that take place at Next Step in Cambridge, MA, as well as across the country in partnership with local hospitals and service organizations. Our youth-centered approach at Next Step is unique. Our young participants advise on content and co-design curricula, resulting in messaging that speaks to them in their own language. This strategy is remarkably successful at keeping them engaged and learning so that they are prepared to take the next step in their journey into adulthood.
At Next Step our young participants develop important life skills, knowledge, and the self-confidence they need to effectively manage their illness and find their sense of self, outside of their medical condition.
YOUR IMPACT ON NEXT STEP
$2500 - Allows a seriously ill young person to attend a full year of Next Step's community, music therapy and mentorship programming
$1500 - Allows a seriously ill young person to attend a Next Step residential Campference
$1000 - Allows a high school teenager living with sickle cell disease to attend a full year of Next Step's weekly afters-chool mentorship program
$500 - Supports a group songwriting session in Next Step's music therapy program for eight participants
$150 - Pays for the food at a Next Step community party
$50 - Allows a seriously ill young person to attend one session in Next Step's music therapy program
$25 - Pays for round trip transportation to a Next Step Campference
NEXT STEP SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE & HASHTAG:
@nextstepfund
#ShatterLimitationsElevateAspirations
Next Step is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
NEXT STEP WEBSITE
www.nextstepnet.org
