Jackie Banana Foundation

The first of 2024, we've completed episode #3 of the Patient Perspectives series! 🍌❤️ In this installment, we're diving deep into a promising new therapy - Amivantamab - with Pat Gilmore of County Galway, Ireland. It is quite a treat on many fronts, but Pat, an EGFR exon20ins NSCLC fighter just like our Jackie, is one of the first patients to be treated with this drug in the EU.

From discovering this therapy while listening to an evening radio show through to his daughter's swift action to gain audience with a physician on the other side of the country, Pat's experience with Amivantamab has been remarkable. Perhaps most remarkable are his results. Via his 24 months treated with Amivantamab, Pat has achieved a "No Evidence of Disease" (NED) state. This is the goal of any patient handed an advanced-stage cancer diagnosis. As therapies evolve, we firmly believe NED will become more attainable.

While Amivantamab has delivered Pat & his family amazing results thus far, it is not without difficulty or grit. Pat shares his side effects & some helpful methods to manage them. As we've mentioned before, content like this is remarkably absent for patients, care partners & physicians in the cancer community. We're pleased to be able to deliver great information from patient leaders like Pat. As always, big thanks to the ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network & Exon 20 Group: EGFR exon 20 & HER2 exon 20 insertions for co-producing this series with us here at the JBF.

Watch Patient Perspectives s01.e03 with Pat Gilmore here on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkh_WsxWL68

Hello friends & supporters! 🍌❤️ We're pleased to present episode #2 of the Patient Perspectives series w/ Carla G, a fantastic leader in the Exon 20 Group: EGFR exon 20 & HER2 exon 20 insertions & spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

Just like Jackie, Carla's cancer is driven by an EGFR Exon 20 insertion. In this episode, we dive into Carla's patient journey and experience with the first FDA-approved oral targeted therapy for exon 20 insertion mutated NSCLC - Mobocertinib/EXKIVITY® (Takeda Oncology).

Like Peggy in episode 1, Carla shares an unbiased, unfiltered perspective on "what it's like" to undergo a specific treatment. As we've mentioned before, content like this is remarkably absent for patients, care partners & physicians in the cancer community. We're pleased to be able to deliver great information from even greater patient leaders like Carla. Double thanks to the ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network & Exon 20 Group: EGFR exon 20 & HER2 exon 20 insertions for co-producing this series with the JBF! There's more on the way soon...

Lastly, hope you all can smile today & think of our Jackie 🥰

Watch Patient Perspectives s01.e02 with Carla here on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owquU94YNio.

It’s a big day over here in the Jackie Banana-verse! Just six months ago, on 22 April, Jackie left us with a vision to help patients achieve their goals. 🥰 Her lifelong connection to travel has brought us patients from all over the globe seeking help to reach treatments & destinations. While we have yet to deploy funds (we’ve gotten sooo close!), we have met some amazing people who, just like Jackie, are tackling their difficult disease with determination, grit & grace. We’ll keep at it into the new year & hope to have updates on some of those patients leveraging the services Jackie designed the JBF to offer.

In this process, we’ve been blessed to find a strong relationship with ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network & its amazing partner organizations. One such organization, the Exon 20 Group: EGFR exon 20 & HER2 exon 20 insertions, is dedicated to helping patients with Jackie’s specific mutation driver. So, in addition to being critical during Jackie’s fight, the group has provided access to a large community of patients around the globe. Together, we’ve produced a unique content series called “Patient Perspectives” highlighting treatments & personal stories from patient leaders in this community.

In general, patients have a difficult time finding unbiased, unfiltered perspectives on “what it’s like” to enter a new treatment. With this content series, we’re getting an in-the-trenches view on some exciting new therapies driving real outcomes for real patients. This inaugural 6 episode season focuses on three drugs crucial to treatment for both EGFR (like Jackie) & HER2 Exon 20 Insertion NSCLC patients - Mobocertinib/EXKIVITY® (Takeda Oncology), Amivantamab/RYBREVANT® (Janssen Oncology) & trastuzumab deruxtecan/ENHERTU® (Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca).

Our first patient perspective is from Peggy Dennis, a prominent NSCLC patient leader & big voice in the cancer community. Her episode details her journey, experiences under treatment with both Mobocertinib + ENHERTU® & her expert advice for patients facing the challenge of a cancer diagnosis. We’re overjoyed with the feedback we’ve received from our partners at the Exon 20 Group & very pleased to be able to launch with Peggy’s perspective. We’re confident that this one-of-a-kind content series will be helpful to oncologists and drug developers as well as the patients and families who are exploring treatment options.

On behalf of everyone involved, we want to thank you all for your support of the Jackie Banana Foundation. Jackie’s vision extends easily into the patient education & access we sought to provide with this series. So, think of our Jackie Banana smiling today on this proud milestone & launch of truly patient-focused content!

Watch Patient Perspectives s01.e01 with Peggy Dennis here on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUJBaHSlsw. Episodes 2 through 6 will be released over the coming months as we explore & receive feedback toward a season 2!

Once again, thank you 🙏🙏 to everyone who came out to Jackie's Party in Chicago. A smashing success with nearly US$30k raised since launch! 🤩 Now for our next stop - Hong Kong!

Sunday 25 June - 16:00 - 22:00. Jackie & the Jackie Banana Foundation will be in Causeway Bay at Art Stellar Studio (https://goo.gl/maps/AVY2Mo2Ku2DNxQ2G8)

We'll be sharing food, drinks & fun on the top two floors on this awesome space. Organized by some of Jackie's closest friends in HK, it's sure to be a great evening. Looking forward to sharing Jackie's mission with a fantastic group of friends & family.

If you haven't already, please share the JBF with your networks: https://www.jackiebanana.com We've got big goals & appreciate everyone's energy & support! 🥰

What an evening - Thank you to all that came out to party with Jackie in Chicago!

We are so very excited to have launched the JBF with such a fantastic group of family & friends. If you have a chance, please share our mission & the donation link: https://www.jackiebanana.com/

Having raised nearly $15k in just 4 days, we're well on our way!

Updates coming on our first patient soon. Until then, please help us to spread the word.

Jackie Banana Foundation updated their business hours.

We are LIVE at https://www.jackiebanana.com !

Jackie Host designed the Jackie Banana Foundation (JBF) during her cancer fight. An expert traveler & patient who received cutting-edge care far from home, Jackie was aware that most patients don't have these options. The Jackie Banana Foundation is dedicated to removing the travel/lodging barriers for patients seeking care outside their home area.

Think of us as Cancer Travel Agents with a clear mission.

Through our already-developing partnerships in hospitality & global patient communities, the JBF will directly navigate travel & lodging for patients that need help accomplishing their dreams & accessing life-saving care.

Your tax-deductible donation will go 100% toward this mission. The phone is ringing & we're already getting started. Jackie needs your help! How?

1. Donate! https://www.jackiebanana.com
2. Connect! We are interested in hospitality, travel & corporate giving contacts
3. Share! Share our website & mission (or this post) with your networks (Fb, LinkedIn, etc.)
4. Like! Follow us here on Fb

There may be more ways to help - contact us at [email protected] if you want to volunteer or have some ideas how we can expand the JBF. 🍌🍌❤️

✈️+🚘+🏠=🏥🥰

Jackie Banana Foundation updated their information in their About section.