Markian Kuropas is a freshman at University of Alabama (ROLL TIDE!!) and a part of the Club Triathlon Team. 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, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
I have been indirectly connected to the cancer community since birth. I was named (my middle name) after my Grandmother's brother Joe who died from cancer the year before I was born. Since then I have seen all four of my grandparents fight against a form of cancer. My grandfather (Grampie) has battled Skin, Prostate, and Leukemia. His wife (Grammie) has been fighting Multiple Myelomia for the past 7 years, during which she has taken multiple trial drugs and undergone a Stem Cell Transplant. On the other side of the family, my grandfather (Dzadzio - it's Ukrainian) has been undergoing treatment for a tumor behind his eye that is causing severe jaw pain. And last but not least Bunia (Grandmother) fought a form of breast cancer. The reach of cancer is too far, there are too many people to name.
Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I've seen my grandparents during some of their most difficult moments. I don't want anyone else to have to go through the pain of those moments, whether they are experiencing it themselves or watching a family member. If running across the country will help, then I'll do it in a heartbeat.
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 |
| Tamara Kuropas | 08/05/2018 | $53.00 | Marta Cyhan | 08/03/2018 | $100.00 | Go Markian Go!!!! | Anonymous Friend | 06/23/2018 | $50.00 | Your Mom is so proud of you! | Chris Zawycky | 06/15/2018 | $50.00 | Kateryna Ty | 06/14/2018 | $5.00 | Good luck! | Lydia Kuropas | 05/15/2018 | $100.00 | We are proud of your determination. Good luck. We love you!! | Debbie Volpe | 05/11/2018 | $40.00 | Anna Sewell | 05/10/2018 | $2.00 | You're so close to goal WOOHOOOOO!!!!! | David Bull | 05/10/2018 | $100.00 | Nadia Zylawy | 05/05/2018 | $25.00 | For research that will benefit many. Go Markian! We'll be cheering you on from Montana! | Rachael Hopewell | 05/04/2018 | $5.00 | An amazing endeavor Markian! Best wishes to you! | Anonymous Friend | 04/25/2018 | $45.00 | From the Bunco group. | Terri Angeli | 04/25/2018 | $25.00 | What an amazing experience you will have, and for a great cause. Best of luck this summer, Markian! | Anonymous Friend | 04/22/2018 | $250.00 | So awesome Markian! Much love from Stephen and the kids too! | Adele Jolley | 04/21/2018 | $100.00 | Markian: you are an extraordinary young man! | Freddie Carroll | 04/21/2018 | $100.00 | A great cause. | Donna Zuroweste | 04/20/2018 | $50.00 | See Mom's FB page! | Anonymous Friend | 04/19/2018 | $1,000.00 | Only a few months until the run! | Anonymous Friend | 04/10/2018 | $200.00 | Aunt's donation for "Markian's Walk" | Anonymous Friend | 03/15/2018 | $140.00 | Meredith & Bill Berger | 03/12/2018 | $250.00 | Love what you are doing. Run hard. See you at the finish! | Karin Kuropas | 03/12/2018 | $10.00 | bracket fundraiser | Anonymous Friend | 03/11/2018 | $125.00 | Good Luck | Adrian Kuropas | 03/11/2018 | $10.00 | Bracket fundraiser | Shawn Jones | 02/20/2018 | $50.00 | Jeanne Brzezinski | 02/19/2018 | $75.00 | Outstanding effort, Markian! You're doing amazing things! From the Brzezinski family (CPO at St. Francis in Raleigh NC) | Kathy Killeen | 02/17/2018 | $50.00 | Ruthanne Berger | 02/10/2018 | $250.00 | Do it Markian. | Heather Weidner | 02/01/2018 | $25.00 | Markian, this is an amazing thing you are taking on. You should be very proud of yourself. Good luck this summer. | Anonymous Friend | 01/31/2018 | $40.00 | Inspirational run. | Adrian Kuropas | 01/31/2018 | $30.00 | Adrian Kuropas | 01/29/2018 | $20.00 | Bohdan Kuropas | 01/27/2018 | $500.00 | We're proud of you Markian! | Adrian Kuropas | 01/25/2018 | $300.00 | Great experience for a great cause. | Anonymous Friend | 01/23/2018 | $200.00 | Go Markian | Anonymous Friend | 01/23/2018 | $325.00 | Markian Kuropas | 01/22/2018 | $100.00 |
| Total | $4,800.00 | ||