Protecting the life around a diagnosis.
Level Up Against Cancer started with one family's experience and grew into a mission, a set of values and a community built by and for the young people it serves. Here's who we are, why we exist and how we're structured to earn your trust.
2025
Founded by a family who lived this, building the community they wish had existed.
MISSION
Level Up Against Cancer connects young people ages 14 through college with academic support, safe peer community, practical resources, meaningful experiences and pathways back to school and everyday life during treatment and survivorship.
VISION
A world where cancer never forces a young person to give up belonging, education, identity or the future they were building.
What guides every program decision.
Our Values
Teen and young-adult voice
Programs are shaped with — not simply for — the people they are intended to serve
Safety first
Youth protection, privacy, thoughtful screening and moderated spaces are built into every program.
Belonging without pressure
You can participate without disclosing your diagnosis, sharing your story or making cancer the center of every conversation.
Education as care
Protecting academic continuity and future options is part of supporting the whole person.
Dignity and choice
Each person decides what support, connection and public visibility feel right.
Partnership
Families, schools, colleges, healthcare teams, volunteers and businesses each have a role.
Transparency
We explain what programs provide, how funds are used and where our scope ends.
Cancer became part of Lucas's story. We refused to let it become the whole story.
Our Story
When Lucas was in treatment, we saw how much cancer could take from a teenager’s everyday life - school, friends, independence, and plans. Level Up grew from our hope that young people could stay connected to those parts of themselves, too.
Where Everything Changed
In June 2025, our son Lucas was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. From that moment, everything moved unimaginably fast — and somehow, life also felt as though it had stopped us in our tracks. Over the next several months, Lucas spent much of his time receiving intensive, lifesaving treatment while the school year, friendships, activities and ordinary teenage life continued outside the hospital.
The Loneliness No One Prepared Us For
Lucas received extraordinary medical care, and we remain deeply grateful. But many hospital activities and shared spaces were created for much younger children. There were few places designed for a teenager who wanted to talk to people his own age, play the games he actually enjoyed, keep up with school or simply feel like himself for a while. Online gaming with friends offered moments of normalcy, but friends had school, sports and lives that continued moving.
Learning From A Hospital Room Is Not As Simple As Opening A Laptop
Access to tutors, class notes, study materials and help with missed lessons can be difficult to find. Even when resources exist, they are not always available when a young person feels well enough to use them or flexible enough for a treatment schedule that changes without warning. Lucas was trying to protect his grades, friendships, college plans and future while carrying more than anyone his age should have to carry.
Why We Created Level Up
Level Up exists for the life that continues around a diagnosis. We are building on-demand resources, personalized academic assistance, flexible options and a safe community designed specifically for teens and young adults. Support should work around treatment, energy and changing circumstances — not create another burden to manage.
A Place To Find Refuge In Community
Sometimes connection means meeting someone who understands what it is like to miss school or return after treatment. Sometimes it means joining a gaming night, creative class or interest group where no one has to explain everything. Whatever connection looks like, it should be available without pressure to discuss a diagnosis or make cancer the center of every conversation.
Building What Lucas Needed
Lucas is helping us create the community he wishes had been available to him — not because cancer defines him, but because he understands the difference one familiar voice, one helpful resource or one place to belong can make. We cannot remove the diagnosis or make treatment easy. We can make it easier to find options, answers, resources and people who understand. Most importantly, we can help young people remain connected to the possibilities and dreams that make life theirs.
Cancer is part of your story. Not the full story.
Responsible leadership protects the mission and the young people we serve.
Board & Governance
Protect the mission and approve strategy, annual goals and program scope
Oversee youth protection, privacy, volunteer and risk-management systems
Participate in fundraising, introductions and stewardship
Recruit and develop a skilled, independent and diverse board
Approve the budget, financial controls and material commitments
Measure program quality, access, safety and impact
Disclose conflicts, protect confidentiality and act in the organization's best interests
Level Up Against Cancer is governed by an adult Board of Directors responsible for mission, strategy, financial stewardship, legal compliance, youth safety and long-term sustainability. A separate Young Adult Peer Committee brings youth and young-adult voice into program and communication decisions.
Board Members
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Lauren M Ibrahim
Co-Founder and Executive Director
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Andrew F Ibrahim
Vice President
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TBD
Secretary
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TBD
Treasurer
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TBD
Director, Programs & Youth Experience
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TBD
Director, Fundraising and Community Partnerships
Young Adult Peer Committee
The Young Adult Peer Committee keeps Level Up honest, relevant and useful. Members help shape program ideas, language, events, school outreach and the online experience. This is a leadership and advisory committee — not a clinical support role or fiduciary board position.
Help build the community you would want to join.
Ages 16–24
Cancer survivors, siblings, student leaders and passionate allies
Young people interested in gaming, academics, events, service, content or community building
People who respect privacy, listen to different experiences and collaborate
Who Can Participate
Review website language and program concepts
Plan events, service projects and school outreach
Suggest hobbies, speakers and experiences
Evaluate whether programs feel safe, relevant, and age-appropriate
Bring recommendations to the adult Board through a designated liaison
What Members Do
Members serve a one-year renewable term and typically meet once a month during the school year, with optional opportunities to take part in special projects. Parent or guardian consent is required for members under 18. In return, members gain meaningful leadership experience, verified service hours when earned, and recognition for the impact they make.
Adolescent and Young Adult Peer Committee
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Lucas Ibrahim
Co-Founder and AYAPC President
Leads meetings, represents the committee, helps establish priorities, and brings recommendations to the Board
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TBD
Vice President
Supports the President, leads meetings when needed, and keeps projects moving
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TBD
Secretary
Records meeting notes, tracks action items, and helps organize committee documents
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TBD
Programs & Events Chair
Develops ideas for gaming nights, social events, workshops, speakers, and other activities
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TBD
Academic Support Chair
Advises on tutoring, missed-school support, school reentry, college planning, and academic resources
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TBD
Peer Connection Chair
Helps create welcoming, inclusive ways for teens and young adults to connect
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TBD
Student Ambassador Chair
Coordinates school ambassadors, clubs, awareness campaigns, and service projects
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TBD
Communications & Social Media Chair
Helps develop teen-focused website content, social posts, videos, and campaign ideas
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TBD
Fundraising & Merchandise Chair
Develops age-appropriate fundraiser, merchandise, and sponsorship ideas—but does not control money
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TBD
Accessibility & Inclusion Chair
Ensures activities include members with different diagnoses, abilities, energy levels, locations, and treatment schedules
Impact & Transparency
Trust is built by showing what support makes possible.
Level Up reports impact through aggregated, non-identifying measures that protect every participant's privacy. As programs launch, this page will share connections made, tutoring hours, event participation, school reintegration support, volunteer service, and participant feedback.
Financials & Public Documents
Responsible stewardship, reported openly.
Level Up Against Cancer is committed to responsible stewardship and clear public reporting. As filings and annual reports become available, they will be published here so supporters can understand how resources are managed and how programs are growing.
IRS Form 990 Filings
COMING 2027
Annual Reports & Financial Statements
COMING 2027
Current Board of Directors and Government Info
COMING 2027
State Charitable-Solicitation Disclosures
SEE DOCUMENT
Cancer is part of your story.
Not the whole story.
Whether you're looking for support or ready to help someone else find it, there's a place for you here.