Emily Diehl is a sophomore at Northwestern University. In the summer of 2017 she 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?

My strongest connection to the cancer community is my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Coughlin. Although she quickly became my favorite teacher after only a few weeks of fifth grade, I didn’t truly appreciate how special she was until a few years later when she became close friends with my mom. My favorite thing about Mrs. Coughlin was her almost magical ability to inspire passion in everyone she interacted with. In the classroom, she focused on forming relationships with each individual student, allowing her to identify their interests and strengths. She would then encourage students to further explore those interests and would suggest ways in which they could do so, while drawing upon their strengths. Mrs. Coughlin also inspired youth in our church to become more passionate about their faith and to pursue their passions while maintaining their faith through her role as a volunteer religious education teacher. She also inspired her friends with her fun-loving spirit and her ability to make anyone feel special and comfortable through even just a short conservation with them. 

Although we lost Mrs. Coughlin last year, her legacy will live on in the life of her students, family, and friends. I hope to channel her same passion when running the 4K for Cancer this summer.

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

I couldn't imagine a better combination of everything I love - running, community service, traveling, and meeting new people. I am so excited about the opportunity not only to fundraise for the Ulman Cancer Fund but to interact directly with cancer patients and survivors and bring their stories back to my community to raise awareness and support. I also have never felt more at home than in the running community and cannot wait to learn from and be inspired by the amazing runners on the trip. It is truly an honor to be part of this team, and I cannot wait for this summer's journey!

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!