Amanda Kimmick is a graduate student at Point Park University. In the summer of 2018, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore, MD to San Francisco, CA, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Cancer is something that affects many families throughout this country, and the world. I have not personally had cancer, but it runs in my family and I have seen how much of an impact it can make on people. My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 and he had a short battle with it before it took his life in early 2005. I was rather young at the time and didn't always understand what was going on and even though it has been 12 years it is still an event that affects my life every day. In addition, I have seen my grandparents constantly battle cancer. My grandmother started with thyroid cancer and later had a bout with leukemia. On the other hand, my grandfather is most recently dealing with colon cancer, previously had prostate cancer, and also has Type II diabetes. I am now 23 but I have seen my family battle through cancer almost my whole life. While I have not had any personal experiences with young adult cancer (what the Ulman Fund is for), I have still seen the impact cancer can have on families and lives and I could only image what it is like for a young adult to have to live through everything that I witnessed at such a young age.

Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I am so excited that I get to be a rider for the 4k for several reasons. One of the main reasons is I want to be able to share my story and, hopefully, help someone else or another family that is going through a similar situation. I also want to help others on the journey, even if it is something small, I want to be able to help the people and families that are continually fighting against this disease. Also, from reading other riders' and runners' experience with the 4k, it sounds like an extremely rewarding experience and it seems like it has really changed the lives of the participants and others involved. I am ready for a life changing experience. I feel like I have been stuck in the same place for so long that I am ready for a new challenge and experience in my life. The main goal of this ride, though, is to support people and families dealing with or who have dealt with cancer. I want to do this for the people who have been lost to cancer, are fighting cancer, and will one day have to fight 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!