Kaitlyn McCue is a Senior at SUNY Oswego. 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 Portland, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

My personal connection to cancer began in 2005 when my nana, Filomena Intorcia, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat it and was in remission until it came back with an unforeseen vengeance and metastasized to her bones. On July 22, 2007, the world lost the kindest heart while Heaven gained its most beautiful angel.

In 2005, my teacher, Melissa Gleichenhaus, passed away from ovarian cancer. The following year, my uncle, Joe Hojnacki, passed away from bone cancer. In 2015, a family friend of mine, Robin Reis, passed away from leukemia. Now, another family friend of mine, Kathy Doolittle, is fully engaged in winning the battle against breast cancer.

Nonetheless, I am fully aware that cancer looms beyond my circle of friends and family. Cancer takes the lives of thousands upon thousands of people each year. Cancer does not discriminate. Cancer comes without warning and does not wait for “the right time.” Cancer is ruthless and unapologetic. However, there is one entity in existence that is far more powerful and everlasting than cancer – that is, the unconditional support that lies within the cancer community.

My experience with Team San Diego significantly deepened my overall connection to the cancer community. As we biked from community to community, we met hundreds of people afflicted by cancer. We shared stories of strength and victory. We shared stories of pain and adversity. We shared hugs, and we shared tears. We shared real emotions and real moments. We shared what it means to be human, and within these intimate moments, communities found hope, and we found the inspiration to keep pedaling to unite communities in the fight against cancer.

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

A cancer diagnosis has the capacity to flip any individual’s world upside down in the matter of seconds. However, young adults with cancer face a myriad of challenges especially unique to their specific age group. Before their diagnoses, they were busy discovering themselves and mapping out their futures. Many were in the midst of planning their careers, and many were in the process of settling down and starting a family. Cancer changes everything and puts an abrupt halt to all of a young adult’s dreams, goals, and aspirations. Cancer freezes the most crucial time of a young adult’s life, and while his or her life is paused, cancer relentlessly carries on. Time is never returned.

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults is special in that it is the only nonprofit organization that provides direct support and resources to young adults facing cancer. As a health person who fits within this age demographic, I would like to embrace the 4K as an opportunity to advocate for those who do not have the time nor energy to advocate for themselves.

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!