Casey Blue is a freshman at Arizona State University. 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, MD to Seattle, WA, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

This past fall I started school at Arizona State University. I had the opportunity to join a program called the Leadership Scholarship Program in which 25 incoming freshmen are selected to participate in. It is a four-year program that offers students the opportunity to learn and grow as leaders while giving back to the greater community, and in this program my cohort and we decided we wanted our social change project to focus on kids experiencing cancer or having loved ones experience it and being able to offer a support network during the difficult time. This is very important to my classmates and I because several of our cohort member's parents are currently or have gone through such an experience. Learning about the cancer community through this project led me to want to help more and get involved with a strong program that is supporting the cancer community- and the Ulman Foundation does just that. The Ulman Cancer Fund focuses on changing lives by creating a community of support for young adults and their loved ones affected by cancer. This pours in and supports the cancer community, additionally, 90% of their funds go right back into the community to help fulfill their mission. I am so excited to get to be a part of helping this amazing organization continue to do great things for the cancer community.

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

Before traveling 4,000 miles this summer on the 4K for Cancer, I will be raising funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. The money raised by me as a 4K participant will support UCF’s vital programs and services such as Cancer to 5K, the National College Scholarship program, and Young Adult Patient Navigation. These programs all provide support to young adults and their loved ones affected by cancer. Along with my team, I will also provide support through service & education events during the cross-country journey. I am traveling 4,000 miles this summer to 1) raise awareness for young adults facing cancer 2) to inspire others that no matter how hard something is nothing is impossible and 3) to challenge myself.

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!