Ben Bukowitz is a senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College. 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 Portland, OR raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
My mom is a breast cancer survivor. When I ended my freshman year of college my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I watched her struggle through chemo and radiation treatments. It was really hard on my family but we all stuck together and were strong for my mom. While my mom was going through her treatments my aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer and it ended up taking her life. My family was torn apart and while everyone was upset we all stayed together and helped each other out. I've lost a lot of family members to cancer and it has had such an impact on my life. I know that I can't prevent any of my loved ones from getting it but I can always be there for them in rough times.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I am traveling 4,000 miles because I want to show everyone out there that I care. Even for people who I haven't met and are struggling with cancer I want to show them that there is someone out there that cares. I know that this ride will not be easy and will challenge me mentally and physically but I know that it does not even compare to having your life taken away by cancer. I've seen what cancer does to families and the burden it puts on them. I want to do this ride because I know that for the families I meet along the way I will be able not only to tell them how much I care but actually show them how much I care by riding from coast to coast.
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!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Jake Meisel | 08/08/2018 | $25.00 | Becky Saddler | 07/04/2018 | $25.00 | I have been praying for you along your journey. | Jeannie Ross | 06/06/2018 | $50.00 | Ben - Thank you for your devotion to such a worthy cause. My donation is in memory of my mother, who lost her battle w/breast cancer 12 years ago. Wishing you safe travels on your incredible journey! Jeannie Ross (Offit Kurman) | Macke Kimmett | 06/03/2018 | $50.00 | Jackie Gordon Ginsburg | 05/30/2018 | $100.00 | Have an awesome trip, Ben! Thanks for doing this. | Marta Boyer | 05/11/2018 | $100.00 | GO BEN GO! We are routing for you every mile! Good luck and be sure to wear some padded pants! :) So proud of you! Love, Jay, Marti, Andy and Jack | Scott Harris | 03/25/2018 | $100.00 | Hey Ben. Liz and I will be "with you" the whole way. It's awesome what you're doing. It's a great cause, great motivation and will be quite an accomplishment. Scott Harris | Anita Dib | 03/14/2018 | $100.00 | Bucky, This is from the Mentors in the MAP program! ANITA | Pete Galarneau | 02/28/2018 | $100.00 | You know how much I love you my man....grease up those quads and have a great time! | Gavin Appleby | 02/28/2018 | $100.00 | WVWC is proud of you. I'm the chair of the board of trustees and an avid cyclist and I'm impressed with what you're doing. | Leslie Kight | 02/23/2018 | $25.00 | Bucky, you have a good soul and you make us all proud. Good luck on the ride of your life. | Ronda George | 02/15/2018 | $100.00 | This is from my mother, Joan George, a life-long resident of Buckhannon and WVWC supporter. Good luck with your ride | Raghu Prabhu | 02/11/2018 | $100.00 | Greg King | 02/11/2018 | $50.00 | Alison Bukowitz | 02/08/2018 | $300.00 | From Matt and I!! We love you! Good luck Bro! | Michael Meisel | 02/07/2018 | $1,000.00 | I’m so proud of the man you have become . | Claire Gallet | 02/07/2018 | $25.00 | Way to go, Ben! :) | Anonymous Friend | 02/07/2018 | $50.00 | For a great cause and the experience of a lifetime! | Olivia Desser | 02/07/2018 | $360.00 | Such an inspiration! Have an amazing journey! | Jon Gilden | 01/06/2018 | $100.00 | Proud of you! Keep up the good work!! | Roxanne Gordon | 12/13/2017 | $50.00 | Hi Ben! | Margot Gordon | 12/13/2017 | $25.00 | So proud of you Ben!! Love everything about this wish I could donate more | Hunter LeMasters | 12/12/2017 | $150.00 | You are the man! This is a great thing you are doing. Enjoy this adventure Bucky! | Mary Cohen | 11/23/2017 | $100.00 | You rock Ben Love Mary | Wendi Bukowitz | 10/23/2017 | $250.00 | Hey Ben - this is a great thing that you are doing . Very proud to support you. Love, Aunt Wendi | Dixie Hindman | 10/18/2017 | $50.00 | Evelyn Bukowitz | 10/15/2017 | $200.00 | Janice Babitt | 10/15/2017 | $100.00 | An amazing undertaking for a wonderful cause. | Ben Bukowitz | 10/01/2017 | $200.00 | For my favorite nephew.... | Anonymous Friend | 09/26/2017 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 09/23/2017 | $50.00 | Linda Hankin | 09/20/2017 | $1,000.00 | It is a wonderful thing you are doing. Love you, Gammy and Pa | Maxine Bukowitz | 09/08/2017 | $200.00 | I am so proud. What an amazing adventure ahead! Xo | Rachel Bukowitz | 09/07/2017 | $100.00 | you rock, bro! Love you. | Ben Bukowitz | 09/05/2017 | $100.00 |
| Total | $5,535.00 | ||