# ALK Positive Patient-founded nonprofit for people with ALK-positive cancer and their care partners: peer groups, education, a second opinion program and research funding. Author: Kevin Wimer Canonical URL: https://kevinwimer.com/cancer/organizations/alk-positive/ Stable ID: 3e02cb17-befd-42aa-8a8c-6e01766e3022 Revision: 051e9aab-42d0-4db8-97f5-e9c1c721e222 Published: 2026-10-23T03:32:40.475Z Updated: 2026-10-25T04:30:26.753Z Reviewed: 2026-10-22 ## Who this is for For patients and caregivers looking for community, education or help navigating care. Inclusion is not a recommendation or a finding that this group is right for your situation. ## ALK Positive Second Opinion Program For: ALK Help covering an ALK specialist consultation for people with ALK-positive cancer who face financial barriers. This program is for people with ALK-positive cancer. A patient or caregiver can apply; ALK Positive reviews eligibility before arranging support. As of October 2026, approved support covers the consultation fee. It does not cover travel, lodging or additional testing. The program page explains how to apply and lists participating specialists. You can also use that list to contact a specialist without applying for financial help. Ask whether the specialist can review your case remotely from your location, which records they need and how soon they can respond. [Eligibility, specialists and how to apply](https://alkpositive.org/living-with-alk/second-opinion-program/) ALK Positive is a patient-founded nonprofit for people with ALK-positive cancer, mostly lung cancer, and the people who care for them. It started in 2015 as an online support group and became a 501(c)(3) in 2017. As of October 2026 it says it reaches more than 3,000 patients and care partners in 55+ countries. ## My experience I joined ALK Positive's Facebook group right after my diagnosis in 2024, and it was one of the most helpful things I did. It's full of people who have been exactly where I was, so they had real advice at diagnosis and at every step since. If I'm worried about something, someone has an answer. If I need direction, someone points the way. And it isn't just patients. The group includes sharp clinicians and biomedical researchers. It feels like having a second opinion available any time, from people who truly care. ## What they offer - A large online support group for patients and care partners, plus a separate caregivers group. - Small patient-hosted chats, with groups for newly diagnosed people, singles, men and others. - Online learning events (ALKtALK and others), a summit and a newsletter. - A clinical trial finder for ALK-positive cancer. - A Second Opinion Program with ALK specialists. - Research funding. ALK Positive says it has committed $10.8 million to research since 2017. ## How to join and what it costs You join the support groups and events through the ALK Positive website. Joining is free (as of October 2026). As of October 2026, the Second Opinion Program covers the consultation fee for eligible patients facing financial barriers. Travel, lodging and extra testing are not covered. You apply by email (see Contacts). ## How it fits with other groups here ALK Positive is biomarker-specific. For broader lung cancer support, see [LUNGevity](/cancer/organizations/lungevity/) and [GO2 for Lung Cancer](/cancer/organizations/go2-for-lung-cancer/). For ROS1, see [The ROS1ders](/cancer/organizations/the-ros1ders/). My [find support](/cancer/resources/find-support/) guide covers how to choose. ## Questions I would ask - Which group or chat fits where I am right now? - Am I eligible for the Second Opinion Program, and how long does it take? - How do I use the trial finder with my own reports? - Is there a group for care partners? ## Contacts - Website: [alkpositive.org](https://alkpositive.org/) - Contact form: [alkpositive.org/contact](https://alkpositive.org/contact/) - Second Opinion Program email: SOP@alkpositive.org - Mail: 6595 Roswell Rd, Ste G2310, Atlanta, GA 30328 ## Limits and context Program details are reported by the group unless noted, as of October 2026. Confirm current programs, eligibility and any costs directly with the group. A community group does not give medical advice. ## Relationships and disclosures I have donated to ALK Positive. I have no other financial or business relationship with the organization. ## Sources - [ALK Positive home page](https://alkpositive.org/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-22; States $10.8 million committed to research since 2017. - [About ALK Positive](https://alkpositive.org/about-us/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-22; Founded 2015 as a support group by Merita Carroll; 501(c)(3) since 2017; 3,000+ patients and care partners in 55+ countries. - [Resources and support](https://alkpositive.org/living-with-alk/resources-and-support/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-22; Online support group of 3,500+ patients and care partners, patient-hosted chats, ALKtALK events and newsletter. - [Second Opinion Program](https://alkpositive.org/living-with-alk/second-opinion-program/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-25; Covers the consultation fee for eligible patients facing financial barriers; travel, accommodation and additional testing not included; apply by email. - [Clinical trials](https://alkpositive.org/clinical-trials/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-22; Clinical trial finder for ALK-positive cancer. - [Contact](https://alkpositive.org/contact/) — ALK Positive; official; checked 2026-10-22; Contact form and mailing address. - [ALK Positive Inc. nonprofit filing record](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/852221062) — ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer; research; checked 2026-10-22; ALK Positive Incorporated, EIN 85-2221062, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. - [Kevin's own experience in ALK Positive's Facebook group](https://kevinwimer.com/companies/alk-positive/) — Kevin Wimer; experience; checked 2026-10-22; Kevin's firsthand experience as a member of ALK Positive's Facebook group since his 2024 diagnosis. Organization website: https://alkpositive.org/ Organization type: Nonprofit Services: Peer support, Education & information, Patient advocacy, Help arranging or paying Community focus: ALK-positive lung cancer, ALK-positive cancer, Caregivers Information/access: [Resources and support](https://alkpositive.org/living-with-alk/resources-and-support/) Service status: available ## Company facts - **Who it serves:** People with ALK-positive cancer and their care partners. (Sources: about) - **Legal status:** 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 85-2221062. (Sources: about, propublica) - **Community size:** 3,000+ patients and care partners in 55+ countries (as of October 2026). (Sources: about) - **Second opinion help:** As of October 2026, covers the consultation fee for eligible patients with financial barriers; travel and extra testing not covered. (Sources: sop) - **Research:** Says it has committed $10.8 million to research since 2017. (Sources: home) Topics: getting-started, expert-support Capabilities: patient-support, second-opinions Related record IDs: 656030c7-047a-40e9-b47b-14b19f3fd2bd, 37f8559b-848c-41bc-9591-06013c785a00 Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinace Educational information, not an individualized treatment recommendation.