Andrew Matar is a graduate student at the University of South Florida. 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, 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?

My connection would be my previous experience with 4K. However, my original connection is that my grandmother from my mother's side died from breast cancer and another close family member personally battled and beat cancer over 20 years ago. Almost anyone you will ever meet is somehow involved with cancer, whether it be fighting the disease themself or knowing a loved one fighting it. I volunteer some of my time to a research lab that specifically works in cardiovascular pharmacology, but we have projects that involve certain cancers. I don't study this hard just so that I can make a lot of money being a physician. Most of what I do is always behind closed doors, no one watches me study or sees how much time I put into furthering my education. Only the end goal of becoming a doctor is what people will see or only ever know. But I still love putting in the work because it's the journey that matters to me most. And if I'm ever in a position to help someone with cancer, my connection with this community will help me be a better doctor.

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

I want to spend another summer riding a bike across several states, talking with people affected by cancer, and spreading their story as well as mine along the way. It was the most memorable summer I've ever had and I want to experience it all over again. There are so many things I wish I could have done differently, but more importantly there are things I wouldn't change. I want to be a rider again so that I can continue to personally grow while doing my best to make a difference in someone's life. This experience will stay with me forever and make me into a better person so that somewhere down the road I can impact someone else in a positive way.

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!