Michael Cha is a senior at Houghton College. In the summer of 2018, he 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?
I always felt that cancer was an unlucky thing that impacted other people. At first, I didn’t know much about it. Sure, other people suggest they’ve had a family member, a friend, or even themselves go through the devastating disease. Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones. Cancer never impacted me. It was a stranger… until it wasn’t.
I grew up in Korea for the first few years of my childhood. When I was 13, my parents and I moved to Canada leaving most of our beloved family behind. We moved once again when I was 17 to the United States where I started college. Throughout most of my adolescence, my contact with family from back home in Korea was through Skype. Through those computer speakers, talking with my family, was the first time I felt the full impact of the word “cancer”.
My beautiful, young-at- heart grandmother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I couldn’t help but think how little I could do to comfort them through the speakers of a computer. It wasn’t like I could drive down the street to visit with her on some random afternoon. She was halfway around the world! I felt powerless and lonely. It wasn’t fair. After many hospital visits with doctors and receiving several treatments, she passed away in October 2016. My world was shattered. I would miss the smell of her Korean cooking filling the entire house. I would miss how her smile would brighten up a room. I would miss everything about her. I know I’ll probably never be able to develop the cure for cancer. I know I can’t make the monster disappear by hiding under the covers but what I can do, is help people not feel so alone when the word “cancer” sneaks up like a stranger in their lives.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
4K provides a platform for me to engage with communities across the United States to provide support for families affected by this disease. My grandmother’s passing was heartbreaking and being powerless was detrimental. Becoming that voice of hope and inspiration to push through the difficult times to so many people is something that I would love the opportunity to do.
Traveling around the United States has always been a dream of mine. What better way to do it than on bicycles allowing me to meet amazing people? Growing up as an athlete, I’ve always strived to give myself challenges. Bicycling over 4,000 miles for 70 days sounds like a challenge I would love to take on.
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 |
Joe Felperin | 08/21/2018 | $25.00 | Great cause...thank you for your dedication! | Deere Employees Credit Union | 08/01/2018 | $155.00 | Kaleb Waterman | 05/27/2018 | $2.00 | Jeremy Renger | 05/25/2018 | $100.00 | Thank you for your commitment to this cause! | Andrew Traeger | 05/24/2018 | $250.00 | Good luck Michael! What a great cause and way to see the United States! | Jeff Little | 05/23/2018 | $50.00 | John Deere | Abby Holtz | 05/15/2018 | $30.00 | Good luck! I’m proud of you for doing this! | Michael Long | 05/15/2018 | $25.00 | Good luck! Very proud of you! | Deere & Co. | 04/30/2018 | $20.00 | Jongmin Cha | 04/30/2018 | $75.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/28/2018 | $300.00 | Have fun! | Michelle Kottman | 04/27/2018 | $20.00 | Deere & Co. | 04/23/2018 | $440.00 | Tristan Griffith | 04/23/2018 | $75.00 | Jongmin Cha | 04/23/2018 | $325.00 | Douglas Lindner | 04/23/2018 | $200.00 | Alexis Barnes | 04/23/2018 | $75.00 | John Khalaf | 04/21/2018 | $25.00 | Ikrom Artikov | 04/16/2018 | $20.00 | Jennifer Elegbede | 04/04/2018 | $10.85 | Because I have to out do Obafemi in everything :-) | Obafemi Elegbede | 04/04/2018 | $10.00 | Ride On!!! | David Gilmore | 03/31/2018 | $100.00 | Bonfire | 03/29/2018 | $236.15 | Anonymous Friend | 03/03/2018 | $1,500.00 | This is a wonderful gift you are giving, Michael. I am proud and honored to be able to support you on part of your mission to help yourh and families affected by cancer. | Chin Kiong Tee | 03/03/2018 | $75.00 | Thanks for hosting me yo! All the best! | Michael Cha | 02/13/2018 | $25.00 | Good luck Michael | Anonymous Friend | 02/08/2018 | $25.00 | Chanda Washington | 02/08/2018 | $20.00 | Good luck, Michael! Your John Deere family supports you! Chanda Washington & Family | Malik Hussain | 02/07/2018 | $40.00 | David Charles | 02/07/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Michael! | Jessica Malone | 02/06/2018 | $50.00 | Malik Hussain | 02/04/2018 | $20.00 | Alexis Barnes | 02/02/2018 | $15.00 | Anonymous Friend | 01/30/2018 | $250.00 | Good luck and ride hard! | Chey Hillsgrove | 01/26/2018 | $100.00 | Hahahahahaha Sorry in advance?! Seriously, menthol chamois butter is life!!! #4KOk | Monica Olah | 01/26/2018 | $100.00 | 2 words ..chamois butter!!! :) | Quentin Tyler | 01/15/2018 | $50.00 | Best of luck! | Mike Pang | 01/14/2018 | $20.00 | Austin Cha | 01/12/2018 | $100.00 | Mindy Wu | 01/11/2018 | $75.00 | What an experience! | Anonymous Friend | 01/05/2018 | $60.00 | Celine Diong | 12/21/2017 | $25.00 | Go get em, buddy! | Michelle McCulley | 12/20/2017 | $20.00 | Good Luck Mike | Oluwakemi Adeoti | 12/20/2017 | $20.00 | Tyler Burke | 12/20/2017 | $25.00 | Good luck! | Dan Hammers | 12/20/2017 | $5.00 | Elliot Spicer | 12/20/2017 | $5.00 | Connor Barnes | 12/19/2017 | $5.00 | Go get 'em, buddy. | Luke McManus | 12/19/2017 | $25.00 | Ashley Collins | 12/19/2017 | $50.00 | Lydia Carter | 12/19/2017 | $5.00 | Johnny Zamites | 12/19/2017 | $5.00 | Good for you | Kaleb Waterman | 12/19/2017 | $5.00 | You're ugly | Garrett Sadtler | 12/19/2017 | $5.00 | Kevin McGillivray | 12/19/2017 | $100.00 | Have a great ride Micheal! | Andy Cha | 12/16/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck! | Lynn Bolser | 12/13/2017 | $20.00 | Meaghan Maloney | 12/12/2017 | $10.00 | Good luck buddy! | Ebony Webber | 12/12/2017 | $50.00 | Good Luck Michael | Datonya Price | 12/11/2017 | $20.00 | Bruce Hess | 12/09/2017 | $25.00 | Anonymous Friend | 12/09/2017 | $20.00 | Brick House! | Tracey Troutma | 12/06/2017 | $50.00 | Jacob Annis | 12/05/2017 | $1.00 | For being a pal | Anonymous Friend | 12/04/2017 | $40.00 | Marcia Bakry | 12/04/2017 | $100.00 | Norman Barclift | 12/04/2017 | $200.00 | Michael Cha | 11/22/2017 | $100.00 |
Total | $6,180.00 |