Daniel Peluso is a sophomore at  Northeastern University. In the summer of 2019, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore to Seattle, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Foundation.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

When I was in elementary school my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because she was so close to my family, it affected us heavily. We would commonly visit her and help her out by volunteering at her fundraisers and spending more time with her for moral support, which I think helped her take the treatment so well. She responded well the the chemo and even started an art company which sold “boob art” to help support her ongoing chemotherapy. She has since been cancer free for about 10 years! Not only did her trials bring the family closer together, but it also helped put the scope of cancer into perspective for our whole family, and helped me to realize at a young age just how much of a problem cancer is on a world wide level.

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

I want to be a rider with the 4K team because I believe the mission and attention a project like this brings in has the potential to bring massive amounts of attention and funding to cancer research and make a huge positive difference to the cancer community. When I first starting doing research on companies that did charitable trips such as these, none had a program as comprehensive as the 4k program is. I love how the ride across America not only involves teamwork and determination, but also involves helping communities across America throughout the trip. While doing things like donating money to research certainly helps people in the long-term, short-term service in smaller communities across America is some of the best service there is. I would love to help out in any way I can and work together with a team of like-minded individuals to bring about a positive ripple in whatever community we join. Additionally, I have been a mountain biker ever since I could ride (and before I could drive) and loved to make my way around Connecticut and Massachusetts and see the sites by way of bicycle. Going cross-country on a bike is a dream.

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!