Caroline Plummer is a Graduate of the University of Delaware. In the summer of 2017, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore to Portland, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Seven members of my immediate and extended family have been diagnosed with cancer. In 2007, my grandfather died from Mesothelioma. He received his official diagnosis only 3 weeks prior to passing. This was the first time I experienced true loss due to cancer, and it opened my eyes to the harshness of the disease. Last year, my aunt also passed away from an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer at the age of 57. She devoted 35 years, primarily at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, to working with children with cancer. Her work included research, education, family support and charitable work. I not only admire her, but am riding in honor of her. She loved to bike and participated in Bike to the Bay, here in Delaware. She also loved nature. Combining those two things, I am dedicating this cross-country bike ride to her. She was an incredible woman who made a positive impact on the lives of everyone she came in contact with.

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

I am biking 4,000 miles this summer because I want to be an advocate for young adults with cancer. The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and take action to make a difference in the lives of those my age that are battling cancer. Fundraising and biking across the country will allow me to help shed light on this community and make a positive impact on the lives of those we come in contact with. I hope that in participating, I am able to help strengthen and encourage the individuals who we meet along the way. I am thrilled that I get to be a part of such a noble cause, and I can't wait to get biking to help save lives. It's empowering to know that traveling across America with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults is going to directly impact the life of someone who is in the midst of their hardest battle yet. Helping others brings me great joy, so this is the perfect opportunity for me to help someone while doing something that I love. It marries the two together perfectly. The 4k For Cancer Portland 2017 is going to be life changing, humbling, and incredibly rewarding because I will get to raise money that is going directly to supporting families with young adults who have cancer. Here’s to Team Portland 2017!

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!