Cancer has impacted us all, let's have an impact against cancer and help as many people as possible. Starting at a young age I learned about cancer when a neighborhood friend of mine passed away after an arduous fight against cancer. Since then, I have witnessed many close friends, family, colleagues fight for their lives against this non-discriminatory monster. I started getting involved when possible with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults quite a few years ago after being inspired by my friend's bike trek from Baltimore to the Florida Keys in honor of his wife who was fighting cancer. I believe the Ulman mission to be of the highest integrity, so when given the chance to make a difference through them and grow out a ZZ Top beard, I was 100% on board. Please join me, if possible, in making a donation towards something that could make a difference in the lives of those affected.

Who is Ulman?

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults has been changing lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, as they fight cancer and embrace survivorship since 1996. Founded by the Ulman family after their son, Doug Ulman, was diagnosed with cancer during his sophomore year at Brown University the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults has worked tirelessly to give young people facing cancer the support and care that they deserve.

Community Of Support

Through its various programs, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults creates communities of support across the country. The 4K for Cancer program, which offers cross-country cycling and running journeys to young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, creates communities of support for the more than 200 communities they visit. Our Cancer to 5K program introduces or reintroduces, cancer survivors to physical activity by providing the training, encouragement, and support necessary to complete a 5K race with a community of amazing volunteers. Team Fight offers another way for people to come together to create a positive community and get active in the young adult cancer fight. And our National College Scholarship Program currently awards 30 scholarships a year to young adults affected by cancer across the US.

Fighting Cancer

From the time of diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond, the Ulman Cancer Fund helps young adults and their loved ones fight cancer through various direct support programs and resources. Our Young Adults Patient Navigation Program works to improve the ability of young adults to manage their cancer experiences and long-term cancer survival through access to support resources tailored specifically to young adults. Currently, we have Patient Navigators in the following hospitals: Children’s National Medical Center, John Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, and Walter Reed John P. Murtha Cancer Center. The Holiday Gift Drive collects, wraps and delivers hundreds of gifts to families battling cancer each year. Our Helping Others Fight program organizes volunteers to directly support local patients and their families by taking on household projects that fall by the wayside after a cancer diagnosis.

Embrace Survivorship

With a diverse offering of programs and activities for young adults and their loved ones, the Ulman Cancer Fund helps people live with, through, and beyond cancer. Starting in 2013, the Ulman Cancer Fund began offering quarterly activities for young adults survivors to foster peer support and connect them with each other outside of a traditional support group, or clinical, setting. UCF experiences, like Key To Keys or Point to Point, provide a platform for survivors and others impacted by cancer to give support, get support, and change lives.

About the Beard Off 

The Beard Off Challenge began as a bet among a group of friends who wanted to see who could grow the best beard. It grew gloriously and in just three years has “fund-razed” over $70,000 for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. With a great beard comes great responsibility. All Bearders are committed to raising funds and, most importantly, awareness for The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, a non-profit dedicated to creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer.

About the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults

At age 19, Doug Ulman was preparing for his sophomore year at Brown University. He was a healthy, active college student and Division I soccer player. One event would change his life forever. Doug was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma, a malignant tumor, located on a rib in his back.

The Founding of the UCF | 1997

Frustrated by the lack of resources and literature to speak to the unique needs of young adults affected by cancer, Doug and his family created The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to fill this gap.

Helping Young Adults| 1997 – Present

Since our creation, the UCF expanded our reach to provide young adults and their families with a unique and comprehensive system of support. The UCF growth has resulted in many programs and services available across the United States.