Sammy Rodgers is a senior at Villanova University. In the summer of 2017 she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49 day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco, CA to Baltimore, MD to raise funds and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. 

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Four years ago, my childhood friend and teammate was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. After nearly 2 years of battling the disease, Katie lost her fight to cancer. After watching her courageous battle and witnessing how this disease slowly took bits of Katie away, I do not want any other person to have to struggle through this dehumanizing illness. Katie once said, "Cancer sucks!"... those two words sum up the heart break and pain that cancer causes. As a pre-medicine student who strives to one day be able to take away people's pain, I am so passionate about ending the pain that cancer patients endure. I am dedicated to raise as much money as possible and one day work as a health care professional to continue my efforts. 

Why are you traveling over 4000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I am so passionate about running that I have completed three marathons. The 4K would allow me to help make a difference for a cause that means a lot to me with something I love to do. The 4K would challenge me every day and help me to develop empathy for what it means to endure challenges continuously as cancer-patients have to. I feel that many of my peers have accepted the fact that they might be diagnosed with cancer sometime within their life. I want to spread awareness to my generation that we cannot accept cancer, and that we have work together to fight it.

2017 marks the 16th 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 Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF). Interested in joining the fight? Apply to be a rider or runner at www.4kforcancer.org! 

Challenge:

Over 70,000 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:

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, the Ulman Cancer Fund 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.

UCF House - This year UCF broke ground on 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!