Jamie King is a junior at Warren Wilson College. 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 Baltimore, MD raising money and awareneness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. 

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Growing up I always had a friend’s parent who had cancer or a family friend, but I never thought it would effect my family. Cancer knows no race, gender, culture or any discrimination. It is unfair and takes the best people from this world with no regret. Cancer was always spoken from other people, but I never thought the word cancer would roll off my dad’s lips. He told me on my 18th birthday and it was like an earthquake just shook my world around. I didn't know what to think or what to do or if he was going to be okay! I had so many questions and so many concerns but was still afraid to address them and have him worry. He told me that prostate cancer was in his family and he caught it pretty early and was doing what he could to stay healthy. I was still in shock and didn't know what to think and all I wanted to do was cry. I thought about all the negative outcomes and what would happen but doing that took me away from what was most important, spending time with him and enjoying every moment together. I needed to enjoy the present rather than thinking about the negative possibilities. It took me a very long time to figure that out and to enjoy every minute with someone because each day is truly a gift , that's why it is called the present. He has been cancer free for 2 years now and is living a healthy lifestyle and our relationship has definitely gotten stronger. In my family, the only rule is you have to give a hug and a kiss to everyone if you are leaving and always say " I love you!" You only get one family, so enjoy every minute of everyday with each other because life can become too short too fast!

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

I am traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults because I want to help kids that are struggling with cancer so that they are not taking on this battle alone. There are many people fighting the same war and that it is okay to talk about it and to give them back power that was taken from them due to cancer. I also want to help others see that there are kids fighting for their life and that is so much more important than the material things in life.

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!