Anna Balch is a 2017 graduate and is currently living in Tapachula, México. In the summer of 2019, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to Boston, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Foundation.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

In 2016, my grandmother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and passed away less than a week later. She was my biggest inspiration and the reason I signed up for 4K the first time around a year after her death. While training for my first run, a friend of mine was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and lost her battle a few months later. From there, my connections only grew - unfortunately. As I continued to train, I heard words of encouragement from friends and family that usually followed with "my loved one had cancer." Once the run started, there wasn't a day that went by where we didn't meet a stranger who was affected by cancer in some way or another. Some of those strangers are now friends whom my teammates and I keep in contact with to this day.

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Foundation?

I want to run 4,000 miles again this summer because for me, one summer just wasn't enough. One summer wasn't enough to honor all the people I know or have met who have been affected by cancer. I want another chance to give back to the communities we pass through and another chance to raise funds for young adults with cancer. This disease has touched the lives of so many people I know and while I may never be able fix that, I want to at least do my best to show my support!

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!