Katie Varela is a sophomore student at Tacoma Community College, finishing up her Pre-Nursing AA degree. 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 in elementary school, I started writing with my mom's aunt named Isla. She is from Scotland so I had only met her a couple of times in person, but we wrote back and forth for about 3-5 years. As a kid, her letters meant a lot and they were always something I could look forward to. As time went by, her cancer spread throughout her body and she passed away. That was the first loss of a family member I had ever experienced. Although it was sad that my pen-pal was taken from cancer, her husband (My Mom's uncle) Pat continued the writing and we have been sending letters to each other ever since.

I have also known a few teammates specifically from my wrestling and track team who have both suffered from lymphoma, which took their athletic abilities away during the process of chemo. This was hard for them because teenage years are confusing, and having a sports team and athletic abilities allows for an escape and with my teammates having cancer, that was taken away from them.

When I was 16, I volunteered at Mary Bridge Children's hospital. Most of the kids admitted into the inpatient unit and Intensive care had cancer. As a volunteer, I helped out whenever I could. This would include coloring with the kids in their rooms, providing support for their parents and young siblings, or just providing a smile in a time of hurt. This experience impacted me because I learned so much and felt so touched by these families who were in the midst of deep struggle. My experience volunteering with these kids was a life changing experience.

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Foundation?

In the summer of 2019, I will be traveling 4,000 miles with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young adults to provide a community of hope and inspiration to young adults, their families, and anyone else who is or has been impacted by the struggles of cancer. Running has always provided a sense of healing and escape for me. If I can use that to journey across America with 90 other young adults to raise awareness and make an impact on the cancer community, it would mean everything in the world. 

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!