Dane Torcivia is a senior at Pace University. 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 Seattle, WA raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

My mother had skin cancer, basal cell melanoma, and she never talked much about it. Throughout my life, my mother did mention it and tell us about her cancer a couple times, but she never let us worry about it. There were times my siblings or I would get worried about my mother, she would be quick to tell us that there was nothing to worry about. Even though it was basal cell melanoma, it was caught early on and it wasn't very deep, so it was removed and didn't pose a very grave threat. Because she never let us worry about it and she never discussed her cancer very much, we never paid too much attention to it. As a result, my family and I haven't been involved in the cancer community. My mother is really my only connection to the cancer community. I see the 4K for Cancer as a great opportunity to give something to the cancer community and be active in a really positive manner with a group of people whom I've never met before. 

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

Since, throughout my life, I haven't had much connection to the cancer community aside from my mom, I see taking part in the 4k for Cancer and getting involved with the Ulman Cancer Fund as the perfect chance to help others in some way, little or small, and bring as much brightness to their lives as I can offer. I look forward to hearing other people's stories and connecting with them to hopefully give me new perspectives and to offer some good memories to others.

In addition to this, one of my favorite things to do is to ride my bike. I live in New York City so I always bike to commute and for work as well. I'm always riding all around Manhattan and Staten Island. My bike and my riding have been integral parts to my identity over the past couple years, and I know will continue for the rest of my life to help define who I am as a person - I honestly can't imagine a time in my life in the future when I won't be riding at least to some degree.

Because of these two reasons, the 4k for Cancer seems like the perfect project to get involved in since it aligns so perfectly with me. I've been very interested in working with an organization that does work like that of the Ulman Cancer Fund and when I learned about the 4k for Cancer, I saw no better time than now to get involved.

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!