Baris Yigit is a senior at Technical University Munich. In the summer of 2017 he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49 day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY to raise funds and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. 

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Cancer has affected me several times in different stages of my life. The first time was when my aunt died of breast cancer. I was very young and barely remember her but I know how much she meant to my mother. I'm sad I didn't get to know her better. Since then, several other people close to me have lost the fight against cancer. The most recent loss was my grandpa who passed away just a couple of weeks ago. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I felt powerless because I'm abroad doing research at the University of Notre Dame and couldn't help. However, the last thing he said to me was that he's proud of me going to the US and following my dreams.

Ironically, the worst time for me was the only non-fatal time. In my senior year of high school, my little sister, who was 16 years old at that time, was diagnosed with leukemia. Later, the doctors changed the diagnosis to MDS which is a similar disorder in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. The reasons for MDS are mostly unknown. However, the treatment is similar to the leukemia treatment: chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, praying. I was my sister's bone marrow donor and I know we were very lucky that this was possible as I'm her only sibling.

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

I read about the 4K a couple of weeks ago right after my grandpa died of pancreatic cancer. In fact, reading about this helped me deal with the loss as it gave me an opportunity to feel less powerless. The fact that the 4K run is so long both in distance and time makes it unique and challenging. It gives me the feeling that I can actually make a change. What appeals to me the most is the mental support for the patients and their families as I have personal experience with that and I think it’s a crucial factor in fighting cancer. My parents lived in the hospital to be with my sister during her treatment and the nurses told me my family had always been the happiest when I was around because I was able to give them strength by spreading positive energy. In fact, the nurses themselves were surprised I could stay so positive while my sister was going through all of this. I guess every little smile helps people endure this energy-sapping time and I will try to spread as many little smiles as possible.

2017 marks the 16th 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 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!