The 118 Foundation was established earlier this year by Sadie Lackey, UGA alumna, who was inspired to create the 118 Foundation after her diagnosis of stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma to serve adults ages 18 to 36 years old undergoing cancer treatment.
“Our focus is very much on meeting these folks where they are and getting them what they need,” Lackey said.
Lackey said she got the idea for the foundation in March of last year, about halfway through and at the peak time of her cancer treatment. Lackey, who is 26-years-old, said that this demographic of cancer patients often goes underserved due to the unique challenges that are presented at a pivotal point in their lives.
“I don’t think it's anything short of a miracle that at the absolute height of me trying to overcome cancer, this idea emerged,” Lackey said. “I count that as a blessing, and I count that as a gift.”
Lackey said this foundation serves the young adult population because of the gap in care and understanding for young adult cancer patients. According to The National Cancer Institute, 4.4% of all new cases in 2023 would occur in the young adults age range– ages 15 to 39.
Lackey originally raised money by selling customized t-shirts to pay for 501(c)(3) paperwork. From the time 118 Foundation was established as a nonprofit, Sadie and her team have since raised over $30,000.
The foundation officially launched on Jan. 18, 2024, marked by a silent auction event in Washington D.C., where Lackey currently resides. They were able to award their first recipient of the Restoration Grant: Madi Robertson, a Texas resident currently being treated for glioma. This is their cornerstone program, and Lackey said their goal is to award five people every quarter.
Cancer treatment can be very expensive: in 2018, U.S. cancer patients paid a total $5.6 billion out of pocket for treatments, according to the American Cancer Society. For young adults who are trying to find their footing living away from home and who are new to the job market, these challenges can often be heightened.
Lackey described her diagnosis as “a complete 180”; she was in a really good place prior to it and was working for a congressman on Capitol Hill. Her entire focus pivoted from living out her set goals to solely focusing on her health.
“You can uplift so many pieces of your life, like your title, your savings account, your material things, and it can be taken from you in one diagnosis,” Lackey said. “So faith for me… is that believing in something that’s not of this world that can’t be taken away from you.”
As a Christain, her faith helped her have a constant source of peace during the rollercoaster process of chemotherapy. The foundation is a ministry, but Lackey said their priority is to love patients where they are. The guiding principles of the foundation are hope, healing and humility.
Lackey transferred to UGA during her undergraduate year from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College because of the diverse experiences and prestigious promise. She majored in agricultural communications leading her to become passionately involved in the Great Southland Stampede Radio and created a young farmers and ranchers club through the Georgia Farm Bureau.
Dr. Abigail Borron, a professor in the university’s Agricultural Communications Program and member of the 118 Foundation board, had Lackey as one of her students a few years ago and said she has always been inspired with her professional aspirations.
When Lackey was undergoing cancer treatment and blog posts to share her experiences, Borron said she would occasionally reach out and offer words of encouragement. Come time of the foundation’s planning and beginning phases, Lackey asked Borron if she wanted to get involved.
“She has such amazing ideas because she has such an amazing heart,” Borron said. “When she came up with this idea, I thought,’It’s got something there that is really important.’”
Borron said that her role on the board thus far is offering guidance and insights into strategic outreach and communications efforts. She also emphasized the importance of the foundation as a ministry.
“To help individuals connect to a local church and a local church body is also very important. I think her faith has really demonstrated that this is a real need for our community at large and this is one way to be able to love and care for individuals,” Borron said.
Lackey said the future focus on this program is truly all about assistance. She hopes the people that they serve gain confidence in their lives and abilities to live an abundant life beyond cancer.
“You can’t do it all on your own. You can’t fix it by yourself. You need a team of doctors, you need your friends, you need your family, you need nonprofits like ours to step in and help you carry the load because it’s cancer,” Lackey said.
