Young adults impacted by cancer experience improved long-term survivorship through outdoor adventures, skills development, and local adventure communities provided by First Descents, a recognized leader in outdoor experiential programming, reports Outer Banks Common Good Enews.

Participants experience free outdoor adventure programs that empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same.

First Descents, based in Avon, Colorado, addresses what the National Cancer Institute identifies as a major determinant of long term survivorship health: ongoing psychosocial supportive care.

Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in young adults. With approximately 70,000 new diagnoses annually in the United States, young adults comprise the fastest-growing and most underserved oncology age demographic.

In 2016 the program provided 1,031 experiences, 90 programs administered, and 25+ hospital and medical clinic partnerships.

One of the 90 programs administered includes the Outer Banks.  To learn more about the Outer Banks program in 2018, visit:  https://firstdescents.org/program/outer-banks-north-carolina-2/