Alison Gareis is a freshman at D'Youville College. In the summer of 2018, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to Baltimore, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
Cancer has affected several of my loved ones and many of my friends’ family members, and has left a large impact on my life and my family. In middle school several of my friends’ parents were diagnosed with cancer and I helped support them through their difficult time. This past year we lost my Uncle Phil and Great Uncle Joe to cancer. Uncle Phil lost his battle to prostate cancer and crohn's disease in January, and Uncle Joe passed away in August after losing his battle to prostate and bone cancer. Their deaths opened my eyes to the many affects cancer can have on not only the patient, but also their loved ones. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my Uncles and the wonderful lives they lead.
Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I am running 4,000 miles this summer with the 4K Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults because I want to help bring awareness and support the cancer community. I want to honor my Uncles and the wonderful lives they lead. Both of them were always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend in need, and I want to follow their example by helping those struggling with cancer. Participating in the 4K for cancer run will allow me to use my athletic abilities to bring a positive change to the lives of those affected by cancer. I want to inspire others to actively participate in the cancer community because no one is alone in their fight against cancer.
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 |
| Laura Solar | 08/31/2018 | $30.00 | So proud of you and everything you have accomplished. Love you so much! | Jen Greco | 08/01/2018 | $25.00 | You rock, Ali! | Josephine Siddiqui | 08/01/2018 | $100.00 | Such an amazing experience! Wishing you all the best! | Bill and Lisa Balcerzak | 07/14/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck Alison ❤️ | Susan Solar | 07/09/2018 | $100.00 | Keep running Alison. Your doing a great job. So proud of you. | Schwartz Family | 07/07/2018 | $50.00 | Great job, Alison! | Ruth Howard | 06/27/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Alison! | James Greco | 06/12/2018 | $50.00 | Go Allison. Make your family proud of your many accomplishments. | Robert Carr | 06/07/2018 | $500.00 | Have a wonderful run! Uncle Bob and Aunt Holly :) | Monica Geller | 06/07/2018 | $100.00 | Good Luck Baby Al! Stay safe and run smart. I love you! | Kevin & Elena Sexton | 06/05/2018 | $500.00 | Good luck Alison | Kacie Mills | 06/02/2018 | $50.00 | Enjoy the journey! | Katie Gareis | 06/01/2018 | $20.00 | don't forget to listen to misery business and run everyday, honestly just have those 2 songs on loop the entire trip and you'll be golden | Alison Gareis | 06/01/2018 | $20.00 | Charlie Epes | 05/25/2018 | $100.00 | Go Alison Gareis & Team! Have a great journey - Charlie Epes & Stephanie Neikirk-Epes | Matthew Marino | 05/22/2018 | $150.00 | Very proud of you Alison! Good luck! | Alison Gareis | 05/17/2018 | $448.50 | Alison Gareis | 05/17/2018 | $15.00 | Kyle Bergen | 05/17/2018 | $100.00 | Mary Jane Marino | 05/17/2018 | $100.00 | Have a wonderful time! | Elise Rhodes | 05/14/2018 | $20.00 | Best wishes for a successful run!! Elise Rhodes D'YC class of 1988 and 1995. | Anonymous Friend | 05/12/2018 | $274.00 | Brian Sharp | 05/06/2018 | $20.00 | Alison Gareis | 03/30/2018 | $100.00 | Ali, Have a safe and wonderful trip. I'm sure Uncle Joe and your Uncle Phil will be cheering you on. Love. | Rick Rejman | 03/21/2018 | $20.00 | Good Luck on your journey! | Anonymous Friend | 03/19/2018 | $100.00 | John Sexton | 03/17/2018 | $100.00 | Alison we are so proud of you. Enjoy your journey. Love, Aunt Cathy & Uncle Terry | Mary Beth Gareis | 03/15/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck Alison, so proud of you! Love Mom and Dad | Loretta Carr-Stock | 03/15/2018 | $50.00 | Bonfire | 03/15/2018 | $232.35 | Lynn Jagodzinski | 03/15/2018 | $20.00 | Good luck Alison! | Laura Solar | 03/15/2018 | $30.00 | So proud of you Al!! Love you so much!! | Sarah Marino | 03/14/2018 | $30.00 | GO AL!!! So proud of you & can’t wait for you to crush this! I love you :) | Susan Solar | 03/14/2018 | $100.00 | Erin McCormick | 03/14/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Al! | Caroline Dunbar | 03/14/2018 | $150.00 | Anna Rine | 03/14/2018 | $50.00 | Go Al!!!! | Tori Lewis | 03/14/2018 | $20.00 | Good luck Ali! Super proud of you! Ily! | Aunt Liz | 03/14/2018 | $100.00 | Love you Ali, so proud of what you are doing! | Anonymous Friend | 03/13/2018 | $25.00 | Love you!! | Sandi Hoffman | 03/06/2018 | $50.00 | Pamela Strickland | 03/06/2018 | $50.00 | We are so proud of you Alison and know that your Uncles are surely shining down with big smiles on their faces and will be with you every step of the way! You are amazing and we wish you good luck! Have fun on this incredible once in a lifetime journey! Love you! | Anonymous Friend | 02/26/2018 | $45.00 | Barbara Marino | 02/11/2018 | $200.00 | So proud of you Alison. Have a fun and safe trip. I love you. | Mike Cole | 01/25/2018 | $100.00 | Very nice you are doing this for Uncle Joe and Uncle Phil. They will be very proud. Love you and love them! | Maddy Leary | 01/16/2018 | $25.00 | ily :) | Shelby Kmidowski | 01/16/2018 | $40.00 | Good luck Al! We wish you the best on your journey! Love, The Kmidowski's! | Anonymous Friend | 01/14/2018 | $30.00 | Renee McDonnell | 01/14/2018 | $25.00 | Shelley Laudico | 01/14/2018 | $25.00 | Grace Gallagher | 01/14/2018 | $75.00 | Nicole Mehlman | 12/18/2017 | $100.00 | I am a 2013 Baltimore Run Alumn (I did the first run across American for 4k for Cancer) I currently Live in Buffalo and went to Niagara University, and now I am the assistant cross country and track coach at Buffalo State College. Hit me up any time if you need advice! Good Luck! | Fatima Siddiqui | 10/17/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck Alison! This is an amazing task you are taking on, enjoy every minute! | Isabelle Schlehr | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Alison, I’m so happy that you are doing this. I’m proud of you and hope that the run goes amazing! | Sheila Donovan | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck! | Anne Gareis | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Mary Beth Baust | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck on the journey | Kailyn & Joy Lane | 10/14/2017 | $50.00 | So proud of you Al and wish you the best of luck:) | Anonymous Friend | 10/01/2017 | $25.00 | I love everything about this. Thank you for choosing to take part in such an incredible venture and I hope you find nothing but the best vibes along the way. | Alexandra Seefeldt | 09/30/2017 | $25.00 | So proud of you girl. You're amazing!! | Jessica Silverstein | 09/30/2017 | $25.00 | Alison Gareis | 09/26/2017 | $100.00 |
| Total | $5,689.85 | ||