Cassie’s story is where our mission began. At sixteen, a sudden pain led to a diagnosis that changed her life and started a four-year battle filled with surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and countless unknowns. What challenged her most was not the treatment itself but the emotional toll of being a young adult with cancer. She often felt alone in questions about her future, identity, and what her “new normal” might be. Everything shifted when she discovered young adult cancer camps, where she met peers who understood her fears and her hopes. Through adventure and genuine connection, Cassie found confidence and a sense of belonging that helped her live fully despite the uncertainty. Before she died in 2012, she shared a dream: that every young adult facing cancer would have access to the same support, community, and chance to feel understood during the hardest moments of their journey.
The Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation was created to honor that dream and to meet a critical need in the young adult cancer community. Each year more than 95,000 young adults in the United States are diagnosed with cancer, yet survival rates have not improved in forty years and the emotional and social needs of this age group remain widely unmet. Our mission is to guide young adults ages 18 to 40 through the challenges of a cancer diagnosis by connecting them to meaningful social support programs and services. We meet young adults where they are and help them build strength through community, information, and shared experience. Central to our mission is Base2Summit, a free weeklong adventure-based survivorship program designed to foster resilience, connection, and personal growth. We also provide travel scholarships, information bags, and post-treatment resources to make sure every young adult can access support when they need it most. As demand grows, our vision is to expand Base2Summit offerings and eventually establish a permanent B2S house that will serve as a home for in-person programming year-round. Your support through Cheer for Charity moves this vision forward. Every gift helps young adults find hope, healing, and connection, and carries Cassie’s legacy into the lives of those who need it most.
