Alejandro Serna Gomez is a junior at Ohio Dominican University. In the summer of 2018, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore to San Francisco, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
My mother, Juanita Munoz, had stage 1 Thyroid Cancer and my Uncle, Mario Gomez, had stage 4 Mesothelioma Cancer.
Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I want to grow closer to the cancer community as I was not able to do much when my mom and uncle were going through their situations. I want to create an impact on many people with cancer and be a part of the change. I myself had surgery on October 27th, 2016, due to a Unicameral Bone Cyst in the upper head of my left femur. I now have a rod and two screws where the cyst used to be in for support and though the recovery process has been long and painful, I have continued to chase my dream and dedication as an active runner and cyclist and I continue to progress. I want my story to motivate all of those who have cancer, are going through any type of surgery recovery, or illness of some kind to not give up and to keep pushing forward!
2018 marks the 17th 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 Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF). Interested in joining the fight? Apply to be a rider or runner a at www.4kforcancer.org!
CHALLENGE:
Over 70,000 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:
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, the Ulman Cancer Fund 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.
UCF House - This year UCF broke ground on 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!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Patrick Ferguson | 08/09/2018 | $140.00 | Hey Alex, You're doing great things and I've enjoyed following your journey. You're almost done. Keep it up! Love, The Ferguson Family | Beale Tolbert | 08/09/2018 | $200.00 | Marissa Wierzbicki | 08/08/2018 | $10.00 | Keep up the good work! Finish strong! | Jerry Lozier | 08/08/2018 | $130.00 | Anonymous Friend | 07/02/2018 | $20.00 | Lulu Macias | 06/24/2018 | $50.00 | Muchas felicidades Alex sigue adelante tu puedes | Christie Weiner | 06/08/2018 | $50.00 | Alex, I am so proud of you! It is a blessing to have you as part of the ODU Family. Thank you, Christie Weiner | Jerry Lozier | 06/06/2018 | $113.00 | So proud of you Alex! Your compassion for others, generousity, and self-discipline is an inspiration. | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 05/20/2018 | $600.00 | 2nd Taco Fundraiser. Best of luck from the Gomez and Munoz families | Edgar Iraheta | 05/19/2018 | $40.00 | I got you bro | Sarah Stuart | 05/16/2018 | $75.00 | We are all so proud of you Alex and I will be praying for you, and looking forward to hearing all about it! | Larry Copeland | 05/10/2018 | $20.00 | Go Panthers Go! All the way to eliminating cancer in our lifetime. | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 05/10/2018 | $100.00 | We wish you a safe and happy journey. Thanks for helping bring awareness to this. | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 05/09/2018 | $100.00 | Alaina White | 05/09/2018 | $100.00 | Juanita Munoz | 04/30/2018 | $100.00 | The rest of the donation money from the camera raffle sell. | Tyler Higgins | 04/24/2018 | $109.00 | Ride that hog. | Robert Gervasi | 04/21/2018 | $150.00 | Go Alex! You are an inspiration! Jen and I wish you all the best. Peace, Dr. G. | Sushmanth Jonnala | 04/18/2018 | $10.00 | Capria Hall | 04/16/2018 | $50.00 | I believe in you Alex! Don't give up and always strive for more. - Cap | Anonymous Friend | 04/16/2018 | $50.00 | Antonio Munoz | 04/16/2018 | $450.00 | From mom and dad! This is the partial amount of the camera raffle sell. | Lee Warren | 04/15/2018 | $25.00 | Have a safe ride Alex! God bless! | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 04/14/2018 | $20.00 | Birthday money! Have fun on your trip! | Fr. Paul H Colloton | 04/05/2018 | $100.00 | Leisa Reed | 03/08/2018 | $40.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 02/22/2018 | $31.00 | To all who donated during my BMT drive! Thank you! | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 02/20/2018 | $15.00 | Beale Tolbert | 01/23/2018 | $100.00 | With respect for Alex's years of Cross Country workouts and wonderful heart. Proud of you young man. | Ana Serna | 01/12/2018 | $15.00 | Richard Sharnsky | 01/12/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck Alex! | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 01/11/2018 | $1,434.00 | This money is all thanks to my family who helped through a Taco sell and the raffle of two bed sets! | Stephanie Guerrero Muñoz | 01/11/2018 | $50.00 | This donation is from your Tia Chela, my mom. She wishes you the best of luck! | Carolina Curiel | 01/10/2018 | $10.00 | I wish you the best of luck Alex in your journey! You Got This! | Stephanie Guerrero Muñoz | 01/09/2018 | $50.00 | Good look, Alex! May God guide and protect you on this journey! So proud of you. | Maria Serna | 01/04/2018 | $100.00 | Dios te ayude y te vendiga en tu largo camino | Brianna Ruiz | 01/03/2018 | $20.00 | Mitch Bastin | 01/03/2018 | $50.00 | Merry late Christmas and happy late New Years, freshman roomie! Hope you do great things! | Juanita Munoz | 01/02/2018 | $100.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 12/31/2017 | $378.00 | Kristen Noecker | 12/24/2017 | $10.00 | Merry Christmas Alex! I know this is being used for something great. | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 12/24/2017 | $720.00 | Rodrigo Serna | 12/18/2017 | $100.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/28/2017 | $80.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/28/2017 | $100.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/26/2017 | $100.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/25/2017 | $70.00 | Maria Gomez | 11/14/2017 | $80.00 | Rodrigo Serna | 11/09/2017 | $100.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/08/2017 | $10.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 11/07/2017 | $10.00 | Anonymous Friend | 11/06/2017 | $10.00 | Anonymous Friend | 11/03/2017 | $5.00 | Ethan Miller | 10/31/2017 | $30.00 | If you need some good labs to give the money to, I know a few | Anonymous Friend | 10/27/2017 | $75.00 | Keep doing great things! | Anonymous Friend | 10/14/2017 | $50.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 09/23/2017 | $20.00 | William Foster | 09/14/2017 | $25.00 | Alejandro Serna Gomez | 09/07/2017 | $100.00 |
| Total | $7,000.00 | ||