Our Mission
In partnership with UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center the Foundation established UNC’s AYA Program in 2015 as one of the first in the country with this focus.
Niklaus and Lucy Steiner, founders of the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation, and Lauren Lux, founding director of the UNC AYA program.
We are heartbroken by the death of Eric Montross. We simply would not be where we are without his kindness, generosity, commitment, creativity and humor. He always brought these wonderful traits with him, whether to Be Loud! board meetings or onto the stage at Be Loud! concerts. There are no words to fully express our deep love, admiration and gratitude for him, and we send much love and light to Laura, Andrew and Sarah as we hold them close to our hearts.
If you’d like to help honor the memory of Eric, please consider buying a special Eric Montross shirt from Chapel Hill Sportswear. All proceeds will come to Be Loud! at the request of the Montross family. We are so grateful for all this generosity. Here’s the link to the shirts, which are available only for a limited time.
Our Story
We want to help them maintain their dignity, identity and independence in the face of this overwhelming illness.
The Program
The UNC AYA Cancer Program Team provides unprecedented support to 13- to 39-year-olds at UNC living with cancer, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive AYA programs in the country.
The Latest
Join us for a community bike ride followed by food, Steel String beer, and live music at Steel String Brewery at Pluck Farm in Mebane. Bike Loud! ’24 features a shorter (24 mi) and longer (66 mi / 100+km) bike ride through the fields and farms of Orange and surrounding counties. Afterwards Steel Sring is hosting a post-ride party with food, drink and local music. You don’t need to ride to come enjoy the festivities. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation.
Click below to learn more and to register. We hope to see you October 12th.
Please take a moment to watch a new video that spotlights the UNC AYA Program and the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation.
Be Loud! has given us our north star – Sophie’s voice and legacy. Sophie reminds us to focus on the experiences and perspectives of the young people we serve, to learn from each individual, and to take what we’ve learned and use it to make things better for the next patient.
– Lauren Lux, Founding Director of the UNC AYA Program
The Be Loud! Sophie Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
