Audrey Moeglin is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. 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 is a very detrimental disease that ruins too many lives. I have seen it tear apart families, mine included. I saw my grandma get weaker as the disease engulfed her, and seeing her suffer tore my mother apart. Even as a 12 year old, I felt the effects of cancer first hand, something no 12 year old should ever have to experience. In addition to seeing it in my family, I fight against it at my school, the University of Kentucky. At UK, we host an annual dance marathon known as DanceBlue, where we dance for 24 hours raising money for the DanceBlue Kentucky Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. I am lucky enough to be a part of the committee that puts on this marathon. Being on this committee, I get to directly see all of the positive impacts we make on these children and families battling this terrible disease. My position on this committee is their graphic designer, where I get to work with every part of this organization. Last year was my first year at the marathon, where I heard many testimonies by different families. I truly felt the emotions as these families told stories of losing their own children. This moved me in such a way that it made me want to apply to work closer with this issue. I love how I can use something very personal to me to give back to such an important cause.

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I find it rewarding to use something small that I am passionate about to work towards a greater purpose. I am 20 years old and have been running since I was in 3rd grade. Since then, I have become a happier person thanks to running. I believe the 4K has a lot of potential to impact lives in a beautiful way. When faced with life's difficulties running taught me the strength to carry on. Every day there are more people who find themselves victims of cancer. I want to bring the strength found in running to those who have to face the hardships of cancer, and being an active participant of the 4K is the ideal way to do so. I want to take a thing I love and use it to bring hope and to help these people. I want to be a runner with the 4K and be the uplifting force to those battling this disease.

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!