Sam Heater is a junior at Clarkson University. 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 San Francisco, CA raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

When my mom was 14 years old, her father passed away from lung cancer. Throughout high school and college, she worked many jobs at once to support her family and put herself through college, all while dealing with the death of her father. More recently, a middle school friend of mine passed away at just 19 years old from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He and his family started a non-profit, Blast Glioblastoma, to raise money for glioblastoma research. His courage and relentless positivity serves as a reminder that even in the worst of times, we can always make the best of everything.

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

It’s always been a dream of mine to bike across the United States. Until recently, it seemed like a pipe dream, reserved for those few who can do the extraordinary. Now, though, I realize that if I am committed, I can do anything I put my mind to. It’s my mission to spread that message to everyone I can, especially those who need it most.

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!