Amanda Kimmick is a graduate student at Point Park 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 San Francisco, CA, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
Cancer is something that affects many families throughout this country, and the world. I have not personally had cancer, but it runs in my family and I have seen how much of an impact it can make on people. My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 and he had a short battle with it before it took his life in early 2005. I was rather young at the time and didn't always understand what was going on and even though it has been 12 years it is still an event that affects my life every day. In addition, I have seen my grandparents constantly battle cancer. My grandmother started with thyroid cancer and later had a bout with leukemia. On the other hand, my grandfather is most recently dealing with colon cancer, previously had prostate cancer, and also has Type II diabetes. I am now 23 but I have seen my family battle through cancer almost my whole life. While I have not had any personal experiences with young adult cancer (what the Ulman Fund is for), I have still seen the impact cancer can have on families and lives and I could only image what it is like for a young adult to have to live through everything that I witnessed at such a young age.
Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?
I am so excited that I get to be a rider for the 4k for several reasons. One of the main reasons is I want to be able to share my story and, hopefully, help someone else or another family that is going through a similar situation. I also want to help others on the journey, even if it is something small, I want to be able to help the people and families that are continually fighting against this disease. Also, from reading other riders' and runners' experience with the 4k, it sounds like an extremely rewarding experience and it seems like it has really changed the lives of the participants and others involved. I am ready for a life changing experience. I feel like I have been stuck in the same place for so long that I am ready for a new challenge and experience in my life. The main goal of this ride, though, is to support people and families dealing with or who have dealt with cancer. I want to do this for the people who have been lost to cancer, are fighting cancer, and will one day have to fight cancer.
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 |
Club One Fitness | 06/12/2018 | $100.00 | Orangetheory Fitness | 06/12/2018 | $100.00 | Scott Breisinger | 06/06/2018 | $40.00 | Sean Scott | 06/06/2018 | $100.00 | Pedal fast | COLLEEN DOTCHIN | 06/01/2018 | $200.00 | AMANDA, THIS MONEY IS FROM GUY AND I, PAT AND JOE FAGAN, FRANK PROGAR, SUE AND SCOTT. THESE ARE PEOPLE DAVE KNEW AND WORKED WITH AT EMI. WE ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU AND I KNOW YOUR DAD WOULD BE BRISTING AT THE SEEMS. GOOD LUCK AND BE CAREFUL. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU GUYS SOMEDAY. LOVE YOU AUNT COLLEEN ( FRANY) | MICHELE REDMOND | 05/31/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck, Amanda! Wishing you a safe journey. | Louise and Gary Corpora | 05/28/2018 | $100.00 | Lee J Barolo | 05/25/2018 | $50.00 | Patricia/Vincent Brennan | 05/25/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Amanda! So proud of your efforts. | Jon Amelio | 05/24/2018 | $25.00 | Amanda, Good luck on this venture! You dad is looking down and very proud! | Zandier Family | 05/24/2018 | $50.00 | "Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence." Thanks for sharing your journey! Good luck :) | Nana and Doc | 05/23/2018 | $40.00 | Robare and Lisa Zep | 05/23/2018 | $100.00 | Maggie Dwyer | 05/23/2018 | $20.00 | Patricia Jones | 05/20/2018 | $200.00 | Jill Horan | 05/16/2018 | $50.00 | #keepingupwiththekimmicks | Rachelle Uline | 05/15/2018 | $50.00 | Be safe and go kick butt!!! | David Kimmick | 05/15/2018 | $100.00 | Tom Koch | 05/15/2018 | $500.00 | Amanda Kimmick | Taylor Zep | 05/15/2018 | $50.00 | Love you and am so proud of you!! Good luck!! | Taylor McConnell | 05/14/2018 | $20.00 | Phil Buck | 05/14/2018 | $200.00 | Thanks for your hard work for a very worthwhile cause | Leslie Zovko | 05/13/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Amanda | Tom Olson | 05/10/2018 | $100.00 | We are all very proud of you. | Marcy Balcerek | 05/10/2018 | $25.00 | Go Amanda! We are so proud of you! | Sonali Verma | 05/09/2018 | $20.00 | Excited to have you on the team Amanda! :) | Rossana Bucci | 05/09/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck Amanda! You are amazing for doing this. Pat and Rossana | Donna Wildow | 04/28/2018 | $50.00 | Joy K Miller | 04/25/2018 | $100.00 | Michelle Lesutis | 04/25/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Amanda!! So proud of what you are doing! | Catherine E Swallow | 04/22/2018 | $25.00 | Phil Ripepi | 04/09/2018 | $100.00 | Gregory and Diana Koch | 04/06/2018 | $50.00 | Good Luck! ( I did it right this time Amanda!) | Geoff Oakley | 04/04/2018 | $100.00 | David Kimmick | 04/03/2018 | $100.00 | So proud of you Amanda! Good Luck and have a great experience. Love you. | Graham Chiropractic | 03/30/2018 | $100.00 | Sarah Ripepi | 03/21/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck Amanda! | Anonymous Friend | 03/05/2018 | $5.00 | Charles Crowley | 02/27/2018 | $25.00 | Keep up the great work. | Suzanne Kimmick | 02/19/2018 | $219.00 | In loving memory of your Father. | David Kimmick | 02/16/2018 | $75.00 | Donation for Amanda Kimmick's bike ride. | Kellan Godfrey | 02/13/2018 | $40.00 | From me and my family. Congratulations on halfway! | Kellan Godfrey | 02/05/2018 | $25.00 | Donna Wildow | 01/20/2018 | $55.00 | Jennifer Kimmick | 01/17/2018 | $150.00 | Good Luck; we are proud of what you're doing. Jenn&Phil | Ken Schindler | 01/11/2018 | $100.00 | This is a great cause. May you have a safe trip and have fun!!!! | Raul Pereira | 12/25/2017 | $30.00 | Tommy Kimmick | 12/20/2017 | $25.00 | Good luck!!!! | Tom Koch | 12/18/2017 | $500.00 | Cecilia Koch | 12/11/2017 | $50.00 | Merry Christmas Gramma and Pop. You make us all so proud Amanda! <3 | Evelyn Ann Welsh | 12/10/2017 | $100.00 | Julie Horan | 11/28/2017 | $50.00 | Good Luck Amanda | Donna Brenyo | 11/25/2017 | $100.00 | Anonymous Friend | 11/09/2017 | $100.00 | Happy Birthday!! | Anonymous Friend | 11/09/2017 | $25.00 | Happy Trails | Tom Koch | 10/01/2017 | $500.00 | Amanda Brennan | 08/28/2017 | $20.00 | Go Kimmick!!! | Jeanne Zimmer | 08/27/2017 | $50.00 | Happy trails Amanda! | Italia Biondo | 07/17/2017 | $30.00 | Thomas C Schorr | 07/13/2017 | $100.00 | Laura Miller | 07/07/2017 | $50.00 | Thank you for supporting such a wonderful and important cause. Best of luck Amanda! | Suzanne Kimmick | 06/28/2017 | $200.00 | It always seems impossible until it is done! | Becky Darke | 06/27/2017 | $100.00 | Good Luck Amanda. Proud of what you are doing. | Amanda Kimmick | 06/12/2017 | $100.00 |
Total | $6,089.00 |