Jennifer Covington is a freshman at the University of South Carolina. In the summer of 2018, she 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 paternal grandfather passed away due to a form of colon cancer before I ever had the chance to meet him. I feel as though I missed out on a great person that could have been apart of my life. I grew up hearing stories about him and his strength in always bouncing back from the hardest situations. My dad idolized him for his character and always regretted the fact that his father would never get to meet his grandchildren or his daughter-in-law. After feeling a deep connection to my paternal grandfather without ever knowing him, I started to look into Oncology for my career path and instantly found a passion I would not have identified without him. I am now focusing on becoming a doctor with my specialty being in Oncology as I continue in my first year of college and have already formed more connections to the cancer community through my sorority's (Phi Mu) philanthropy, which is the Children's Miracle Network Hospital and through Dance Marathon (also donating to CMNH) at USC where I just joined the Morale team and registered as a hero for this school year.

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

I'm traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to help in the ongoing fight against cancer and to honor those who have been affected by it. This summer of biking I'm going to go on pales in comparison to the struggles people afflicted by cancer go through on a day to day basis, but I hope to help those I can through this program with my fellow riders.

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!