Taylor Osborn is a junior at Murray State University in Kentucky. In the summer of 2019, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to New York raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

My grandmother is my closest connection to the cancer community. She died last year from a very agressive form of cancer that took her in a matter of months of her diagnosis. Its rapid development took us all by surpise and left her without any chance to put up a fight. Everyone will at some point in his or her life know someone who is affected by cancer and must watch as they fight for their life. It is very difficult to stand idly by and watch as the cancer attempts to take over a persons life. The community of people who have been affected by cancer will do anything it can to ensure it doesn't have to witness cancer take its toll on anyone else. We hope and pray that one day we won't have to worry about such things, and no one will have to fight alone anymore. 

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I am traveling next summer to experience community and relationships in a new way, and to be able to help and support the cancer community in every way possible. I look forward to being able to hear others' stories, learning about who they are and understanding their connection to the cancer community, while building relationships. I want to support those who are still fighting -- which is why I run. I run so that no one has to fight alone, so that they can run someday, too. But I also run to be able to experience adventure across the country, exploring and creating friendships with new people with different backgrounds and lives. 

2019 marks the 18th year of the 4K for Cancer sending young adults on journeys across the country in an effort to inspire hope and unite communities in the fight against cancer. The 4K for Cancer is a program of the Ulman Foundation (Ulman). Interested in joining the fight? Apply to be a rider or runner a at www.4kforcancer.org! 

CHALLENGE:

Over 72,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer every year. Young adults (ages 15-39) face a variety of unique challenges with a cancer diagnosis including fertility preservation, social isolation, lack of insurance, delayed diagnosis, and more. 

SOLUTION:

Ulman Foundation changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, Ulman is able to provide free support services and resources for the young adult cancer community including:

Cancer to 5K - a 12-week training program designed to introduce or reintroduce cancer survivors to physical activity.

Patient Navigation - a free program (onsite at cancer centers and remotely through our office) that ensures no young adult ever faces cancer alone. We provide one-on-one support & resources to young adults and their families to help them manage the cancer experience and long-term cancer survival.

Scholarships - a financial assistance program to help young adults continue their education after being affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one.

Ulman House - This year Ulman will open a “home away from home” to provide free housing for young adult cancer patients, and their caregivers, in East Baltimore. 

Your donation will help make these programs and our mission possible!