Emily Baas is a graduate student at Tulane 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?

I was a 180-mile participant, and member of the student executive board for Pelotonia benefitting Ohio State’s cancer research facility while I was an undergraduate student. I became involved when my aunt was first diagnosed with bladder cancer and participated again in her memory. More recently, I witnessed my uncle’s decline and end of life battle to brain cancer. I stood by and watched as his ability to farm his land left him, his vision taken away as his tumor took over, watched him fall in an attempt to prove he could still care for himself, and heard the desperation in his voice when he said,” I am too young to die,” a week before his passing. I promised him at his funeral that I would do better for him as I pursue a career in medicine and give with all my ability to make sure others don’t have to head down his path.

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

I need and want to do more with the abilities I have been given. I am so fortunate that I get to enjoy using my body on an almost daily basis doing all of the physical activity that I enjoy doing. Why not use that love and drive to do some good for someone other than myself? As mentioned previously, I promised my uncle that I would do better for him. I believe 4K is something I need to do. I have a body that is capable of making the trip and a spirit that is yearning to do the work that means so much more than going on a bike ride. This ride gives me a powerful platform to share my encounters with cancer and enables me to empower everyone I come across that they can make an impact on cancer in the course of their lifetime by using their own passions and talents, and not wait to care until cancer has touched their life.

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!