Rachel Sortino is a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame and teacher in San Antonio, TX. 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 New York, NY to raise funds and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. 

What is your connection to the cancer community?

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with Leukemia and given a less than 5% chance at survival. After battling through chemo and a stem cell transplant, he won the battle and chose to get back into shape by running marathons. He then spent the next decade or so trying to convince me to run one with him while battling cancer two more times. Eventually, his determination to keep running convinced me to join in and we have since run several half and full marathons together and plan to continue to do many more in coming years.

My dad's cancer journey also inspired me to get involved with Sunrise Day Camp during my time at Fordham University, both through their Sunrise on Wheels program at Montefiore Hospital and at their Long Island camp's Counselors in Training program. That summer I ran a program for high school students who had had cancer or siblings with cancer, and it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I learned what it was like to wake up at 6 am every morning, excited to get to work because it meant another day of being inspired by my campers and fellow co-workers.

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

I am running 4,000 miles this summer to first and foremost help raise awareness about the issues young adults with cancer face while also raising funds for support programs for young adults with cancer. Additionally, I am running on behalf of my campers at Sunrise Day Camp who continue to inspire me every day. 

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!