Emma Daley is a Junior at Cosumnes River College. 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 San Francisco, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

In 2010, when I was 14, I was diagnosed with papillary and follicular thyroid cancers. Thyroid cancer is typically common in women ages 35-40, so to be diagnosed with it at 14 is rare. This came as a huge shock to me and my family. However, cancer is an unfortunately common occurrence in my family. My mother had Wilm’s tumor when she was 6,7, and 9 years old and breast cancer at 33; my grandmother is currently battling a recurrence of breast cancer that metastasized to her liver. We knew how to handle the news because of how common it is in our family tree. We initially decided to postpone the surgery until my Winter break (so I could have more recovery time), but ultimately decided to have the surgery and start treatment right away. As we later found out, if we had waited, the cancer would have metastasized. I was a sophomore in high school at the time and, on top of battling cancer, I still had the stress of doing well in school. To add extra stress, this all occurred at the end of the semester and during finals.

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

I want to challenge myself to ride 4,000 miles next summer for a number of reasons. I believe that this ride will be an excellent way to prove to myself that when I put my mind to it, I can achieve almost anything and it will be a great chance to see the country that I call home. Secondly, I fully believe in what the Ulman Cancer Fund is doing and I want to help raise awareness for it. Having previously had cancer I can understand how scary it is. Being a young adult you tend to think that you're invincible but, having cancer changes that. You didn't get too drunk one night and fall into a ditch, your body is fighting against you. The Ulman Fund is doing their part to help you win that fight. They're with you from beginning, middle, and end. Unlike other funds, they don't send you a get well card and leave it at that, they engage with the individual and their loved ones.

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!