Joseph Billings is a graduate student at Manhattan College. In the summer of 2018, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to New York City, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
My connection to the cancer community started with my connection to my fraternity. Our philanthropy was St. Jude Research Hospital. Working with and along side them for four years was one of the most inspirational things that I have ever done. I had the chance to work directly with a young boy named Tyler and raced in his name to help raise 40,000 dollars with my fraternity brothers to help with the finical burden his family was facing.
I am personally connected through my Aunt Wendi who is currently going through treatment and a former student of mine who I mentored and walked with for the last year. He was lucky enough to fight through and walk at his senior graduation last May.
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 because I want to help bring awareness to a program like Ulman Cancer Fund. I believe that programs like this help in so many ways. It brings hope to the people that we directly impact and inspiration to the people around us to want to help and to reach out and do just a little bit more then they were.
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!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Debra Falcasantos | 07/14/2018 | $25.00 | Wilson Phillips | 07/11/2018 | $110.00 | Anonymous Friend | 06/07/2018 | $40.00 | From Brother Tom | The James R Swallow Charitable Trust | 06/05/2018 | $1,000.00 | Samantha Bennett | 06/01/2018 | $50.00 | I’m so proud of you! Good luck in all of your endeavors! | Melissa Brooks | 04/19/2018 | $100.00 | Go Matt go!! I hope I get to see you along the way! You're awesome! | Diane Heaphy | 03/15/2018 | $100.00 | So proud of you, Matthew. I know your mom and dad are too. And your grandma. | Anonymous Friend | 03/02/2018 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/02/2018 | $1,811.77 | Ryan Quattromani | 02/21/2018 | $15.00 | This is you: “The way you behave should be a model for those you teach.” -St. JBDLS - GOOD LUCK! | Christian McLaughlin | 02/14/2018 | $20.00 | Go Matt! | Amir Khaghani | 02/14/2018 | $15.00 | ❤️ | Chipotle | 02/01/2018 | $129.23 | Woodie Clark | 01/26/2018 | $200.00 | Make sure you add micronutrients and massage to your training and the event and take care of your feet! | La Salle Retreat Center | 01/19/2018 | $100.00 | Thank you for making a difference! | Julie LaRue | 01/13/2018 | $100.00 | Bill and Joan Billings | 01/09/2018 | $100.00 | May God direct your feet as you run | Brennan O'Donnell | 01/02/2018 | $150.00 | Your fellow Lasallians are proud of you! | Kevin Prester | 01/01/2018 | $100.00 | Dammit Boy! Run Matt Run | Stacey Drumwright | 12/29/2017 | $50.00 | What an amazing cause!! Thank you for being selfless and compassionate to those in need! May God bless you through this amazing journey! | Richell Martin | 12/29/2017 | $20.00 | Jason DeWitt | 12/29/2017 | $15.00 | Anonymous Friend | 12/28/2017 | $20.00 | Mark Hart | 12/28/2017 | $25.00 | Donation on behalf of my MBA classmate Wendi Billings Allan. Good Luck! | The FiveWords | 12/28/2017 | $50.00 | in Honor of Wendi Billings Allan | Drew Malcomb | 12/28/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck Matt. | Jennifer Moon | 12/27/2017 | $10.00 | EDWARD PHELAN | 12/24/2017 | $300.00 | Matt, You are amazing ed | Luke Daur | 12/18/2017 | $600.00 | Good luck on you trek across the country. | Anonymous Friend | 12/16/2017 | $27.00 | Mike Martello | 12/13/2017 | $50.00 | Bro. J.P. Reilly, Fsc | 12/08/2017 | $100.00 | Glad to aid your exceptional cause here, Matt. Blessings on your efforts! | Conor Reidy | 12/05/2017 | $20.00 | Salvatore Florio | 11/30/2017 | $20.00 | Inspirational, Good Luck! | Mary Margaret Vollmar | 11/27/2017 | $100.00 | Happy running! Proud of you and can't wait to see you soon! | Joseph Billings | 11/14/2017 | $127.00 | From the hall of Jasper! YOU ROCK MATT | Mara McGuinness | 11/08/2017 | $10.00 | This is incredible! Best of luck to you. | Andrea Dulaney | 11/03/2017 | $100.00 | We are so proud of you! Best of luck and take care! | Clare O'Connell | 11/03/2017 | $15.00 | Maddi Larsen | 11/03/2017 | $5.00 | This is so amazing! Way to go :) | John Smarrelli | 11/02/2017 | $100.00 | Walter Schreiner | 10/25/2017 | $100.00 | Happy to help! God bless! | Former LV Volunteer | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Jazmine Cole | 10/08/2017 | $10.00 | Tim Hamling | 09/23/2017 | $25.00 | You never cease to amaze, Matt! Keep up the good work and best of luck! | Nathaniel Garcia | 09/22/2017 | $20.00 | Make us proud, Matt! | Steven Patzke | 09/20/2017 | $20.00 | Good luck! A wonderful example of faith and zeal! | Lia Italiano | 09/20/2017 | $20.00 | Jennifer Tyndall | 09/20/2017 | $50.00 | From one LV alum to another, what you are doing is inspiring. | Joseph Billings | 09/15/2017 | $100.00 |
| Total | $6,525.00 | ||