My name is Emma, I am 31 years old, and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the fall of 2024. After a total thyroidectomy and left neck dissection, I have been navigating survivorship and "life after cancer". My young adult life had already been drastically impacted by cancer after losing my mother in 2021. The mental/emotional toll of cancer is as difficult and long-lasting as the physical. The last few months I have been leaning into AYA resources and have found new confidence, belonging and understanding. I learned about True North Treks first in passing at CancerCon 2025 where I was a delegate for Lurie Cancer Center. I then attended a magazine release of Elephants and Tea, the AYA publication, where I spoke with somone from TNT and learned about this specific Trek. It was an immediate "yes" for me once I realized I qualified! I lived outside of Detroit in my childhood and have fond memories of going "up north" with my family on ski vacations. I adore winter and find being in nature very healing.  Experiencing cancer at 30 was the beginning of a very long and very expensive medical journey. I am SO grateful organziations like True North Treks exist 

Please consider donating to to True North Treks! My trip is free to me because of generous donations from people like you! 

More about the Pay it Forward Model: Our Pay it Forward Pledge program asks all of our participants to make a pledge to try to help "pay it forward" to the next participant through their own grassroots fundraising efforts before/after their trek. We ask participants to make a pledge goal of raising $1200, which is less than half of what it costs each person on average. We help participants set up a personalized fundraising website and brain storm possible ideas.