Katherine Schaffer is a graduate from St. Mary's College of Maryland. In the summer of 2017 she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49 day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco, CA to Baltimore, MD to raise funds and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
Cancer is not kind, it does not take in consideration who it is affecting or the impact it will have on the person's family and friends. When I was eight, I was introduced to this reality. My uncle was diagnosed with colon cancer and my belief that the world will do no evil upon those who are good was shaken. He has not been the last loved one who has been impacted by this disease. My aunts have battled breast cancer and have survived. My friends have lost their lives to unrelenting cancers. Seeing, talking, supporting my loved ones who are either directly or indirectly impacted, has inspired me to run for this cause. I believe that running for this cause will bring awareness to these notorious unwanted diseases. I believe that running for this cause will allow research to continue searching for a cure, running will allow survivors to reach for their dreams, running will allow patients to receive the support that they need. No one deserves to have to go through this battle, let alone do it by him or herself.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
Running with the 4K will bring cancer awareness to my community and the communities I am fortunate to visit. I want to be there to support the patients and families through a challenging time period and let them know that they are not alone in their battle. By traveling over 4000 miles, I will be able to raise funding for the Ulman Cancer Fund to continue with the programs that they have been so successful with, ranging from the 5K for Cancer to being able to bring the essential Chemo Care Bags to the patients in hospitals. I will be raising funds to help the researchers and physicians combating this notorious disease. I want to run for my uncle who passed away from colon cancer and all the women in my family who have had to change their appearance due to breast cancer. I have been inspired by those fighting cancer and by alumnus 4K Ulman Cancer runners and bikers. Specifically Jamie Roberts, Kim LaBarge, Carly Harmon, and Shelby Perkins. I want to thank them for being incredible women who have not only pushed themselves, but those around them.
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!
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Peter Krech | 08/04/2017 | $815.00 | Kat, This donation is on behalf of the St. Mary's College of Maryland Women's Soccer team! We have raised money over the past year and wanted to donate it to a good cause! Thank you for what you and all of the other participants have done to raise money for such a great cause! We are proud of our alums, and you're always part of our family! | Steve Bollinger | 07/28/2017 | $50.00 | You are pretty bad-ass. I did a bike ride across the country a few years back and had an amazing experience. I hope you are able to do the same. | Phil Batzner | 07/18/2017 | $5.00 | Eugene Schaffer | 07/16/2017 | $65.00 | Nicole Pendry | 07/11/2017 | $100.00 | I have a bitterness towards cancer foundations due to my experience in delivering chemo and treating cancer patients. Hopefully, this foundation helps alleviate some of the suffering young cancer victims experience. I have my doubts.... make it worth it Katherine | Sam Williams | 06/23/2017 | $15.00 | Hi there, Katherine - I've been meaning to donate to this for a while. Keep doing what you're doing - the whole of South London is behind you! Go get 'em. Sam | Jason Sinclair | 06/13/2017 | $20.00 | Good luck Dr. Schaffer | William P Roberts | 06/02/2017 | $500.00 | Bob & Eveline Roberts in memory of Jamie - SMCM #24 4K #20. Go Seahawks!! | Linda Andrews | 05/20/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck with this endeavor. Thank you! | Eric Kimmel | 05/20/2017 | $100.00 | Tessa Scheckelhoff | 05/19/2017 | $25.00 | Anonymous Friend | 05/18/2017 | $1,000.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/28/2017 | $10.00 | Jen Thai | 04/25/2017 | $10.00 | Anonymous Friend | 04/02/2017 | $25.00 | John Weeks | 04/02/2017 | $100.00 | Ellen and Shawn Burgess | 04/01/2017 | $300.00 | With much gratitute from Tia and Olive. | Daniel Petersheim | 03/25/2017 | $20.00 | Richard Horn | 03/23/2017 | $200.00 | Go For It | Meaghan Staudenmaier | 03/19/2017 | $335.79 | From the Vicenza health care team. More to come! | Bobby & VA Stouffer | 03/15/2017 | $100.00 | Hey lady, We are so proud of you and to call you our friend. Thank you for being a voice to those that suffer and feel as if they can't fight for this awareness. Your kindness and selfless acts are inspiring and truly awesome! Continue fighting the good fight because you are making a difference and changing the world in the best possible way!!! | Geo Rockwell | 03/05/2017 | $100.00 | AsiaLuna Patlis | 03/03/2017 | $5.00 | Crossfit Bethesda | 03/03/2017 | $460.00 | Ashrifia Adomako-Ankomah | 03/02/2017 | $50.00 | Keep up the great work, Kat! | Syam Tadavarthy | 02/26/2017 | $51.00 | Karrah Weaver | 02/26/2017 | $25.00 | Mac Vanden Berg | 02/25/2017 | $10.00 | Katerina Athanassiadou | 02/25/2017 | $15.00 | Lindsay Ancellotti | 02/25/2017 | $10.00 | Regina Tranquillo | 02/25/2017 | $100.00 | Liza Sitz | 02/25/2017 | $20.00 | Victoria Wolk | 02/25/2017 | $55.00 | Julie Kirsch | 02/25/2017 | $50.00 | Jessica Ruiz | 02/25/2017 | $100.00 | Faizah Shareef | 02/25/2017 | $25.00 | Jean-Claude Brizard | 02/25/2017 | $50.00 | Sara Dickson | 02/25/2017 | $35.00 | Jennifer DiGiacinto | 02/25/2017 | $150.00 | Anonymous Friend | 02/25/2017 | $20.00 | Pratik Vij | 02/25/2017 | $15.00 | Stay strong | Sarah Sadozai | 02/25/2017 | $25.00 | Ruby Moreno | 02/25/2017 | $20.00 | Roberto Martinez | 02/25/2017 | $20.00 | Adam Waddell | 02/24/2017 | $25.00 | Robert Pedersen | 02/24/2017 | $30.00 | Rogers and LLC | 02/23/2017 | $100.00 | Kyle Helmstetter | 02/21/2017 | $25.00 | Earth Treks, INC | 02/15/2017 | $100.00 | Thomas Lydon | 02/13/2017 | $75.00 | Better get working on those Biggie and Tupac songs. | Brianne Weaver | 02/10/2017 | $50.00 | Scott Peterson | 02/09/2017 | $100.00 | I could write something cheesy and/or inspirational, but I'll refrain. | Benjamin Brida | 02/09/2017 | $50.00 | Sarah Sadozai | 02/08/2017 | $5.00 | Tansy Gu | 02/08/2017 | $10.00 | Go Katherine :) | Sarah Thomas | 02/07/2017 | $75.00 | From Gordy and I - We love you! So proud! :) | Connor Whitaker | 02/07/2017 | $25.00 | You are awesome, and your journey will be amazing. I hope to follow along with your progress! | Yvonne Latour | 02/01/2017 | $15.00 | Sandy Bearden | 01/27/2017 | $50.00 | My best to you Kat!! Eat, Pray, Love your way to Baltimore!!!! So proud of you. | Kyle Rambo | 01/27/2017 | $50.00 | I'm proud of you, Kat. You and that big ole heart of yours are an inspiration to all of us!!! Have fun and enjoy the scenery and the people. Your memories will be priceless and last a lifetime! | Rachel Dorsett | 01/24/2017 | $50.00 | Love ya Kat! You rock for doing this! | Kathie McGinnis | 01/24/2017 | $40.00 | so proud of you! | William Corwin | 01/24/2017 | $100.00 | Thank you! | Kathie McGinnis | 01/24/2017 | $10.00 | Taylor Nowaskey | 01/23/2017 | $50.00 | Mary Ann Sifford | 01/19/2017 | $25.00 | Mariska Davids | 01/17/2017 | $15.00 | Keep up the good work! | Michael Briones | 01/15/2017 | $30.00 | Good luck Kat! I know you'll do great! | Katerina Athanassiadou | 01/13/2017 | $30.00 | Good luck! | Antoine Wright | 01/11/2017 | $20.00 | Amazing story and thanks for taking the time to share it; great to connect with you. | Mary Hearin | 01/09/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck, Kat! Proud of you for participating in this run! | Justin, Kelly, Stefan, Allie and Max Schaffer | 01/08/2017 | $150.00 | Hey Katherine! Merry Christmas! And happy running! Justin, Kelly, Stefan, Allie and Max | Dan & Theresa Thomas | 12/19/2016 | $100.00 | Kat, You rock! Wish we could join you, but apparently we are too old. Boo!! Wishing you an awesome summer and awesome running experience. Next time you are in the area and baking, we'll take a banana nut bread. YUM! Keep up the great work! XOXO | Samantha Welch | 12/13/2016 | $35.00 | From the Charles River Aquatics Staff | Chris Adams | 12/12/2016 | $45.00 | From the IRTA closet! | Amir Reda | 12/04/2016 | $50.00 | Eugene Schaffer | 12/03/2016 | $400.00 | Thank you for keeping Uncle Ben in your thoughts. Keep up the good work. | Stephanie Guzzo | 12/02/2016 | $30.00 | You are a true inspiration Kat! You got this and I'll be cheering for you every step of the way! | Katherine Schaffer | 11/29/2016 | $100.00 |
| Total | $7,371.79 | ||