Alley Milam is a sophomore at Colorado College. 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 Ulman Foundation.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

I find it hard to say that I am “fortunate” to be connected to the cancer community, yet I realize that it truly is a gift to know the inspiring, brave cancer community. My dad’s closest brother, Bruce, died of leukemia just a few years before I was born. To me, even though I was never lucky enough to meet him in person, he is my Uncle Bruce. He is the uncle that I hear the stories about that inspire me to be a more caring, light-hearted, introspective individual. Cancer took him before I could experience his laughter, intellect, and altruism. Though I will never be able to say that I had a relationship with my Uncle Bruce, I truly believe that I get to know him through others. Despite being old enough to have a son of his own, he never lived past forty, never saw his son grow up to be the man he is, despite his limitations, nor for him meet me. Although we will never be “fortunate” to lose someone to cancer, I will always be blessed to be connected to the cancer community.

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

My Uncle Bruce was a young father to a boy with autism, my cousin Travis. According to my father, Travis is a carbon copy of his dad, despite his developmental disorder. I remember my cousin Travis by his contagious laughter, his lengthy knowledge of his select areas of expertise, and his kind demeanor. If it is true how much Travis is like his father, then I truly missed out on a dynamic individual due to cancer. It is my greatest fear that Travis missed so much in losing his dad so early. I want to not only run for my Uncle Bruce, but for my cousin Travis, my dad and his siblings, my grandparents, and all of those who were touched by my uncle’s life in the short time he had. I want to be able to bring attention to a cause that means so much to my family that lost a brother, a father, a son, and so much more before he could love so much of the world and the world could love so much of him. Uncle Bruce’s fight has inspired me to make the most of my future with the hopes of pursuing pediatric oncology as a professional. Though it may be years before I can physically touch a patient or be responsible for the happiness that a family experiences when their loved one goes into remission, right now I can still make a difference with 4K. I can give what I have to something bigger than myself. I can be apart of something bigger than myself. I can run to bring funds, attention, and positivity to that something that is bigger than myself.

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!