Divya Kameti is a senior at University of California San Diego. In the summer of 2019, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to Baltimore, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Foundation.
What is your connection to the cancer community?
When I was a young girl my grandfather went to go see the doctor for what seemed to be a simple fever. The doctors noticed a small mass growing in his left shoulder and decided to send a sample of it to the lab even though my grandfather dismissed it as not causing him any pain. Although he recovered from the fever, the doctors discovered that the cyst was cancerous and immediately began chemotherapy. This unexpected news had left my family both speechless and in tears. He fought hard through a painful year and ten months before the doctors noticed that the cancer had spread throughout his legs as a form of bone cancer. They suggested that he spend his final days at home in the comfort of family and loved ones. As his first grandchild, my grandfather holds a special place in my heart. My grandmother has lived with my family ever since his passing, and I’ve gotten to experience his love through her and the influence she has had on me.
Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Foundation?
I am traveling over 4,000 miles this summer because I want to be part of a cause that is greater than myself. I can only imagine the sort of pain and suffering that cancer inflicts on those diagnosed, but running with the 4K is a way to empathize with those who face this disease with strength and courage. I hope to inspire others to wake up every morning expecting to make the most out of every day and to live a healthy and happy life. By battling against my own body as I run from coast to coast, I wish to influence others to also join the fight against cancer. I feel so honored to have been selected to be a part of the 4K program, and there are no words to describe how excited I am to embark on my journey this summer!
2019 marks the 18th 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 Foundation (Ulman). Interested in joining the fight? Apply to be a rider or runner a at www.4kforcancer.org!
CHALLENGE:
Over 72,000 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:
Ulman Foundation changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, Ulman 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.
Ulman House - This year Ulman will open 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 |
Anne Johnston | 06/14/2019 | $100.00 | Mark and I greatly admire you for participating in this fundraiser. See you in a couple of months! Fondly - Anne Johnston | Laura Galloway | 06/14/2019 | $100.00 | I am a big fan of your mother and now of you! Congratulations on your graduation, the very best of luck to you on your life changing journey and thank you for joining such a good cause!! | A Torn | 06/07/2019 | $100.00 | What a wonderful way to help so many people, to challenge yourself, and to have fun! Enjoy the journey, Divya - you’re such an inspiration! | Ananths Ananths | 06/15/2018 | $100.00 | Hi Divya, Great adventure for the good cause! Good luck ! | Special Agent Mike Dunn | 05/21/2018 | $500.00 | Divya, wishing you an amazing experience and much success. See you soon! | Anna Sewell | 05/10/2018 | $2.00 | Team New York yay!!!!! | Rajani Motamarri | 04/24/2018 | $30.00 | We’re very proud that you took upon this journey for the wellness of others. God Bless You with the Strength and Courage in making your journey a success | Venkatesan Mahadevan | 04/15/2018 | $50.00 | Best Wishes Divya to you on this noble mission. Have fun and be safe! | Sebastian Matias | 04/04/2018 | $5.00 | Never stop doing push-ups, your form is too good!! | Microsoft | 03/22/2018 | $150.00 | Sastry V. S. Gollapudi | 03/14/2018 | $51.00 | Srinivas Raja | 03/13/2018 | $100.00 | Dear Divya, We are very proud of you for taking on this challenge for a noble cause. Hats off to your commitment and dedication. All the very best and God bless you. | Divya Raswan | 03/11/2018 | $100.00 | Sameer Vuyyuru | 03/11/2018 | $100.00 | Gaurav Shah | 03/11/2018 | $50.00 | Good luck and have fun ! | Vijay Mandelli | 03/11/2018 | $100.00 | Divya, Wow! Running 4000 miles is Amazing! It shows your caring nature about your society, I am sure you will transform with great leadership skills with this journey, keep making your parents proud, of course, as you always do. Be safe and enjoy the Great Marathon, God Bless You! Regards Vijay & Saritha | Kesava Charugundla | 03/08/2018 | $40.00 | Divya, I and auntie are so proud of you hard to imagine you running 4000 miles in 49 days you need to train a lot to do that | Satya Undamati | 03/04/2018 | $100.00 | Wish you all the best Divya. Be safe and have fun. | Hematology Oncology Medical Group of Orange County, Inc. | 03/02/2018 | $500.00 | Solene Limongi | 03/02/2018 | $10.00 | Good luck Divya Kameti! <3 | Abby Zilvitis | 03/01/2018 | $25.00 | So proud that youre doing something so selfless. Love you and miss you Divya!! | Swetha and Nikhil Thiruvengadam | 02/28/2018 | $100.00 | Wish you all the best in this wonderful endeavor to raise money and awareness for cancer research and care! | Ravi/Revathy Viswanathan | 02/28/2018 | $151.00 | Best Wishes Divya, to you and your team on this noble mission. Have fun and be safe. | Arun and Mythili Arunachalam | 02/27/2018 | $101.00 | Dear Divya, We are very proud of you for taking on this challenge for a noble cause. All the very best and God Speed. | Paris Vastagh | 02/27/2018 | $10.00 | If there's anyone determined enough and strong enough to run across the country, it's you. :) | Anonymous Friend | 02/26/2018 | $15.00 | Killem, Killa Kam. You eat those. | Ellie Koenig | 02/26/2018 | $5.00 | Good luck! Can't wait to hear about the adventure! <3, Ellie | HENGDA(JACK) SHI | 02/26/2018 | $50.00 | Proud of you and you are always thinking bigger than yourself. | Bramaramba Uriviti | 02/25/2018 | $101.00 | Dear Divya - I am so proud of you for taking the time and for your dedication to run from California to New York for a great cause. This is the best way to spend your summer. Wish you all the best on your incredible journey. My blessing's and your Grand pa's blessings will always be with you my dear. | Sam Nayani | 02/25/2018 | $100.00 | Divya - So proud of your determination to run across the US for such a great cause. Good luck for your incredible journey. | Pushpa Chaukulkar | 02/20/2018 | $100.00 | Great cause, Divya. Very proud of you! Palsule family | Yagnesh Dholakia | 02/20/2018 | $101.00 | Great Job Divya! Nitya and we all are proud of you!!! Make sure you do Adavus and Mudras while running :) | Niranjan Sathe | 02/19/2018 | $100.00 | Great Job Divya!! | Aditya Tadanki | 02/15/2018 | $150.00 | Best of luck, Divya! This is such a wonderful cause to commit your summer to. We're all very excited to hear your updates throughout the trip! | Anil Kumar Aeimula | 02/13/2018 | $25.00 | Great job | Haritha Bandi | 02/07/2018 | $200.00 | Good Luck Divya, so proud of you for being part of the great journey :) | Ashmita Kumar | 02/03/2018 | $25.00 | Good luck Divya didi! This is an amazing cause to support. | Ravikumar Vipperla | 02/03/2018 | $250.00 | Great way to spend the summer. Best wishes. Ravi | Amisha Kumar | 02/03/2018 | $25.00 | Good luck, Divya didi! | Amit Kumar | 02/03/2018 | $100.00 | Great cause Divya. Good Luck. | Steve Reddy | 02/03/2018 | $250.00 | Wish you phenomenal success in your mission !! | Ravi Sravani Jandhyala | 02/02/2018 | $201.00 | That is indeed an incredible and hopefully a fun effort for a great cause | Uma Kameti | 01/23/2018 | $250.00 | So proud of you Divya and these young students to have the heart, dedication and motivation to help others. Thanks for taking on this effort so others can be healed. We love you to the moon and back!!! | Ravikumar Kameti | 01/23/2018 | $150.00 | Very proud of you Divya for doing this for a great cause. |
Total | $4,873.00 |