Katie Jones is a senior at the University of Kentucky. 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 San Francisco, CA, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Many of my family members have battled different types of cancer. My mom and maternal grandpa dealt with skin cancer, my great grandpa passed away from leukemia and lymphoma, and my paternal grandma and grandpa have both beaten colon cancer. I will probably battle some type of cancer in my lifetime, as most of my family members have dealt with cancer as they have gotten older. Watching cancer destroy the lives of patients and their families is difficult. Watching people become frail and lose their hair due to chemo is frightening. I want to make a difference in this community and do whatever I can to help. I wish to bring hope and comfort to the young adults and their families who are battling cancer.

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

I want to donate the resources I am blessed to have, such as time and money, in order to help people struggling with cancer in any way I can. I know first-hand how helpless these diseases can make friends, family, and patients feel. Last year, I participated in the Dance Blue Marathon at the University of Kentucky. This event is a 24-hour dance marathon that benefits the UK Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic. This was the most memorable event throughout my entire college experience. Being able to interact with the kids from the clinic and watch their smiling faces was so very special. The family members of these children spoke toward the end of the marathon. What shocked me the most about this event was how appreciative, selfless, and thankful the children and their families were for the time and resources of the participants. It was truly a magical event that I will never forget. The Dance Marathon was a lot of fun, but I am no dancer. However, I do love cycling! The 4K for Cancer is the perfect way to enjoy one of my favorite hobbies while helping others. I can't wait to raise more money for the cancer community and pour my heart and soul into training for the next year.

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!