Joey Haavik is a senior at St. Mary's College of Maryland. In the summer of 2017, he 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?

As it always is, my introduction into the cancer community was unceremonious and unexpected. I remember quite vividly the moment when my mother told me the doctors had found a small, pea-shaped lump in her breast tissue (later I would discover that there were actually two tumors--she had lied to protect me from a more frightening truth). I was thirteen years old at the time. Although her cancer was detected quite early, she still opted for a complete mastectomy of her right breast, and then 4 months of aggressive chemotherapy treatment in order to eradicate the cancer's involvement in the lymph node. In hindsight, I realize I was quite ignorant at the time to the toll that this process takes on the human body. Reflecting on this experience with more knowledge and maturity, I find great inspiration in my mother's determination to protect both herself and her family from what it means to have your body poison itself. Since then, I have witnessed two Aunts battle breast cancer, my grandmother lost her battle to cancer of the bile duct, and numerous other family and friends deal with various other types of cancer.

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

From witnessing cancer through the battles of friends and family, I have seen the way that cancer does not stop at inhibiting one's physical life, but it overtakes their emotional and mental lives as well. So, as an able-bodied, healthy individual, I am traveling 4,000 miles across the United States on my bike for all of those who cannot. Truly, I recognize my health as an enormous gift, and so the 4K ride is my opportunity to cherish this gift while also being able to give back at the same time. In a way, I look at this journey as a self-prescribed overtaking of my personal, emotional, and mental lives, at least for a Summer. While no amount of physical exertion can equate to the experience of battling cancer, I hope that by expending my time, my energy, and my *likely* aching leg/butt muscles, I can honor those who have been affected by the disease. In addition, the ride also provides an awesome platform on which to advocate for the cancer community and the Ulman Cancer Fund.

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!