Martha Siegmund is finishing up her last year of graduate school at the University of Michigan. 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 Seattle, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

In 2013, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Anyone who has ever heard the word “cancer” escape a doctor’s mouth has felt the unique, gut wrenching pull of knowing you haven’t accomplished your life’s goals. At the age of 23, I had accomplished so few of my goals and was being reminded in a not-so-subtle way of my very real mortality. Being faced with cancer gave me the courage to reevaluate my life, pursue my passion, and devote myself to the service of others. Ultimately, I had two surgeries and radiation and thankfully have made a full recovery.

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

I am traveling 4,000 miles this summer for several reasons. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the Ulman Cancer Fund that no young adult should have to face cancer alone. In my own experience, it can be very isolating to be in your early twenties and have cancer. Even if you are surrounded by people who love and care about you, none of your peers are going through the same experience. The Ulman Cancer Fund fills an important niche in cancer support by exclusively targeting this age group. After I was diagnosed, I found lots of wonderful resources for people with cancer, but none of them were specifically aimed at young adults, and thus did not address the unique concerns of this group. The Ulman Fund provides valuable services exclusively to young adults with cancer: college scholarships, guidebooks for those recently diagnosed, support groups, the UCF House (a home away from home for patients going through treatment and their families), patient navigators (trained professionals who help young adults navigate all kinds of issues), and a Cancer to 5k program. The runner in me loves the idea of the Cancer to 5k program. What better way to empower young survivors and make them feel like they are taking their bodies back than training for and completing a race? These are needed and valuable services that will improve the lives of many young adults with cancer and I am excited to support such a worthy cause. My final reason is personal. I love a challenge and making my way from Baltimore to Seattle, the ultimate test of physical and mental endurance, on nothing but my own steam ignites a fiery sense of passion. Accomplishing this goal accompanied by a group of my peers who have all been touched by cancer will be an incredibly special and empowering experience.

Thank you for your support!

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!