Manos Pagonis is a Sophomore at Montgomery College. 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 Portland, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

I have a friend who was diagnosed with leukemia about four years ago. I was unable to see him until last year because he had been too weak to be exposed to too many people.  When I finally saw him, he had told me how hard it was fighting leukemia; how he wished he could have had his friends by his side. I couldn’t be there for my friend at the time, but maybe I can be there for someone else.

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

I am traveling because I want to learn different people's stories. I’ve been very fortunate in my life and I feel like this is a chance for me to give back to people whose lives have been affected by cancer. My friends always tell me I’m very sociable and entertaining…And I’d like to meet people who have been going through this struggle along with their families. My intent is to make them laugh or at least smile by the time I leave every one of them. I also feel that biking with a group of people towards a common goal of helping people will enable me to grow as a person.

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!