Mary Vanco is a junior at Indiana University. 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 Portland, OR raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
Most people today know someone battling cancer. It is unfortunate how many people face this disease and how many people it affects. My mom’s cousin passed away from lung cancer and several people in my family have had skin cancer. Losing someone to cancer is never easy and can take a toll on families. That’s why this summer I am standing up to cancer in hopes of making a difference on a ride of a lifetime.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
My wish is to support the cancer community by giving my time and money. I want to give cancer patients and their families hope and comfort and remind them they are not fighting alone. I would love to use my healthy body to transform another person’s life. This ride is much more than just a trip across the country. This ride is for everyone effected by this disease and praying for a cure.
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 |
| Anonymous Friend | 07/29/2018 | $50.00 | Peter Pavel | 06/27/2018 | $250.00 | You are brave and awesome for doing this for a great cause. You will remember this forever. Stay safe and God Bless you on your journey! | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 06/22/2018 | $750.00 | Jean B Roti | 05/28/2018 | $20.00 | Barbara E Vanco | 04/26/2018 | $25.00 | David and Charlotte Parcels | 04/18/2018 | $50.00 | Mary: What an amazing adventure you are about to undertake! Embrace the journey. Enjoy the ride (pun intended :)). | George Jacobs | 04/03/2018 | $20.00 | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 03/22/2018 | $150.00 | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 03/22/2018 | $300.00 | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 03/22/2018 | $300.00 | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 03/22/2018 | $150.00 | W. W. Grainger, Inc. | 03/22/2018 | $225.00 | Barbara J Roberson | 02/28/2018 | $25.00 | Susan & Greg Miller | 02/18/2018 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 02/18/2018 | $100.00 | Angela Vescelius | 02/10/2018 | $25.00 | Andy and Cyndi Jacobs | 01/26/2018 | $300.00 | Nicole Caratas | 01/25/2018 | $25.00 | This is awesome Mary! So proud of you. Love you lots bae <3 | Cindi Melone | 01/24/2018 | $50.00 | Zadell Family | 01/21/2018 | $50.00 | So proud of you, Mary! | Daniel Brewer | 01/21/2018 | $100.00 | We're proud of you! Love Aunt Karen and Uncle Dan | Rebecca Deutsch | 01/19/2018 | $25.00 | Wishing you nothing but tailwinds! Cliff & Rebecca Deutsch | Erin Prince - Kadus | 01/19/2018 | $25.00 | Good luck Mary! Erin & Keara Prince | Beth Ocampo | 01/17/2018 | $25.00 | Good Luck Mary!! Keep up the good work ! God bless! | David Dawson | 01/10/2018 | $75.00 | This is what I call an EPIC adventure! Enjoy "dancing on the pedals" through the Rockies. | Sharon Campbell | 01/10/2018 | $25.00 | Emily Kunschke | 01/08/2018 | $100.00 | Good Luck! | Sunny Guzman | 01/08/2018 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 01/07/2018 | $50.00 | For Mary Vanco | The Cooper Family Cooper | 01/06/2018 | $150.00 | You go Girl!!! Love, The Coopers | Jill Barber | 01/05/2018 | $100.00 | Way to go Mary! We wish you much success on your journey! Love, The Barbers | Thomas McDonald | 01/03/2018 | $250.00 | Claire Billing | 12/31/2017 | $50.00 | Thank you Mary for doing this. It is a wonderful thing. | Joanne Brunner | 12/31/2017 | $50.00 | Good Luck, Mary! | Carlton Cessna | 12/30/2017 | $25.00 | Alan Pietrusiewicz | 12/29/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck! Have a safe and exciting experience. | Steven J. Vanco | 12/26/2017 | $25.00 | Chrissy Costanza | 12/23/2017 | $40.00 | We are so proud of you! | Judy Vanco | 12/12/2017 | $500.00 | Love from Grandma Judy! | Anonymous Friend | 12/12/2017 | $1.00 | Marilyn Jacobs | 12/06/2017 | $150.00 | Richard Stefan | 11/28/2017 | $250.00 | Sound like a great fund raiser with the adventure of going cross country on your bike. WOW | Molly Zadell | 11/28/2017 | $15.00 | This is so awesome, Mary! Good luck! | Home Improvement Design Build LLC | 11/23/2017 | $500.00 | Jodi & Larry Marvet | 11/19/2017 | $50.00 | What a great mission and exciting experience! We can't wait to see all the FB photos next summer! | Barbara Pietrusiewicz | 11/19/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck Mary on your adventure. | Allison Shank | 11/13/2017 | $25.00 | Doing this for my mom cause she doesn't know how :) | Elizabeth Shank | 11/13/2017 | $25.00 | Love you! | David Vanco | 10/18/2017 | $250.00 | We're so proud of you and we will be cheering for you | Tim Vanco | 10/11/2017 | $20.00 | hi | Mary Vanco | 09/20/2017 | $100.00 |
| Total | $6,216.00 | ||