Erica Nicolini is a Freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. 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 Seattle, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
I am extremely blessed to be able to say that no one in my family has had cancer. Although people very close to me have been heavily affected by cancer. This summer I hope to learn more stories about those in the cancer community and to be able to honor them through the ride.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I am riding across the country to raise awareness for cancer and to create a community for those that feel afraid or alone in their fight against cancer. I am riding to know that each mile, each hill climbed, and each burning pain in my quads is impacting those affected by cancer. As well as to let them know that even if we don’t know each other personally, I acknowledge their strength and I care. I'm excited for a life-changing summer and to do my part in the fight against cancer!
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!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| William P Roberts | 06/06/2017 | $500.00 | Hook 'em Horns! I didn't realize there was a 2nd Longhorn until Allyson Hite told me at the send-off, sorry I missed meeting you. Best wishes for a great ride & experience from a UT Alum & parents of Jamie Roberts, SMCM #24 & 4K #20 | Anonymous Friend | 05/15/2017 | $261.00 | Enjoy the ride! You are doing a wonderful thing for an important cause! | Nita Gonzales | 05/15/2017 | $500.00 | We love what you're doing for cancer families around the world. Best of luck, we love you & be careful! The Gonzales' | Yannick Heard | 05/09/2017 | $25.00 | Have a fantastic ride! I can't wait to hear all about it in a couple months! P.S. I want a postcard please! | Saif Al-Shmaisani | 05/09/2017 | $50.00 | Have fun and kick some cancer butt! I expect lots of postcards on your ride and biking lessons when you get back :) | Rachel Escobedo | 04/28/2017 | $20.00 | You rock!!! What you are doing is totally awesome and I know you will have one great summer! I expect at least one post card :) | Marco Tortello | 04/20/2017 | $50.00 | Have a good ride :-) | Anonymous Friend | 04/04/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck! | Andrew Nicolini | 03/19/2017 | $300.00 | Giuseppe | Andrew Nicolini | 03/19/2017 | $55.00 | Zia Paola - Fiorano | Sabrina and Mathew Sides | 03/11/2017 | $200.00 | We love you! You're gonna kick so much butt! | Sam Gaglio | 03/10/2017 | $19.00 | 19 YEARS 19 DOLLARS 9.5 MILES 1 GOOD HUMAN | Dave & Dawn Caldwell | 02/12/2017 | $200.00 | Thank you Erica for fighting for this great cause! | Anonymous Friend | 02/06/2017 | $50.00 | You're ridiculous & this is awesome | Saif Al-Shmaisani | 02/01/2017 | $30.00 | Oddur Sigurdsson | 01/21/2017 | $100.00 | This is from Sigurdsson Family , Stefan Oddsson Family in honor of Stefan's Grandmother Gudrun Oddsdottir who died form pancreatic cancer | Pamela Ferguson | 01/20/2017 | $25.00 | Have a fantastic ride! | Jason & Tara Chadwick | 01/03/2017 | $25.00 | Erica Nicolini | 01/01/2017 | $400.00 | T-Shirt Sales | Gregory & Janice Goebel | 12/31/2016 | $25.00 | Good luck on your ride! | Anonymous Friend | 12/17/2016 | $200.00 | Good luck!!! You are doing a great thing. | Bright Funds Foundation | 12/14/2016 | $200.00 | Nancy Sim | 12/12/2016 | $20.00 | Karen Mannon | 12/12/2016 | $25.00 | Good luck and have fun on your ride! It will be a life changing experience! | Kerri Hom | 12/12/2016 | $20.00 | Way to go Nicolini!! | Leann Wright | 11/23/2016 | $100.00 | Good luck Erica! | Andrew Nicolini | 11/19/2016 | $50.00 | From uncle Giorgio | Marguerite Martel | 11/08/2016 | $150.00 | Have a great trip and thank you for supporting people who are beating Cancer :) | Clay & Katy Colvin | 11/06/2016 | $200.00 | If we're still living in the U.S. next summer we'll try to be there at the finish line :-) Good luck, be careful, and keep your eyes on the road! Love, Clay & Katy | Anonymous Friend | 10/31/2016 | $650.00 | Ayy lmao | Flaminia Chapman | 10/29/2016 | $200.00 | Jeffrey Eberhard | 10/29/2016 | $200.00 | Good luck Erica! | Erica Nicolini | 10/28/2016 | $100.00 |
| Total | $5,000.00 | ||