Karlee Vaillant is a graduate from St. Mary's College of Maryland. In the summer of 2018 she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70 day, 4,000+ 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?

In some way shape or form, almost everyone has a connection to the cancer community whether you’re personally effected by it, know someone close effected by it, have a neighbor who’s been effected by it, or want to do your part and fundraiser for it.  I sadly lost my grandfather to his battle of non hodgkin's lymphoma during my senior year of college after watching him battle it for years. I have also seen two of my aunts and their journeys to battle their diagnoses of breast, and endometrial cancer, where both now are happily in remission. Seeing the toll though that cancer puts on the body, and watching that process is something I hope most people won’t have to experience in their lifetime, yet it seems like almost everyone knows that feeling.

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

I had first heard about this while I was in college and it seemed like such a cool experience, and then every year more and more people I knew were partaking in this once in a lifetime journey. After hearing and reading more about it, this just seemed like the perfect experience to be able to both give back to the community, and travel across the country meeting countless people and hearing their stories along the way.  Between being able to raise money and awareness about the Ulman Fund, being a part of an incredible team, and taking the adventure of a lifetime, I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity.

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!