Sawako Suzuki is a sophomore at Cornell University. In the summer of 2018, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to Boston, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

Cancer came crashing into me. Cancer grabbed my life by the wrist. Cancer forced me to grow up quickly. I have a life philosophy that everyone has one ‘thing’. One thing that makes them feel singled out and a little alone. One thing that they will always have to carry with them. One thing that they have to overcome. One battle. When I was 11 years old, my dad was diagnosed with lymphoma. For years, I never told anyone, not even my best friends or coaches or teachers. It closed me up and made me feel at times that the world and all that I knew of it was completely against me. It made me wonder, “Why me? Why now?” It made me question. It made me question my life, who I was, and why bad things happen.

Soon after, I lost my grandpa to pancreatic cancer. Later, my grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I made it my goal to one day find a way to give back to those impacted by cancer.

After starting school at Cornell, I decided to go out of my way to find a way I could positively impact the large community of cancer-affected people in this world, specifically cancer patients and their family members. I am a part of Camp Kesem at Cornell University, a national organization that provides year-round support, a week-long free summer camp each year, and a lifelong camp community to children affected by a parent’s cancer. However, it is my goal to expand and further my efforts and my love for this community! I hope to be able to do that through the 4K for Cancer.

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I am a runner with the 4K, because the 4K for Cancer provides an extremely special and unique opportunity that merges my three passions: running, education, and giving back to those impacted by cancer. The idea is simple. Run across the country. Educate myself more about the young adult cancer cause. Raise awareness. Engage with individuals who are readily affected my cancer. Work with a team to do it all. Fall in love with the journey. I want to be a runner, because I am confident in my abilities as an athlete and, more importantly, as a role model. I want to face the challenge of running 4000 miles, across the United States. I want to be confronted by the beauty of the land. I want to run through the emptiest and fullest parts of the country for the cancer-affected community, such an overlooked portion of the population. I want to show anyone and everyone that we, as the cancer-affected community, are fighters. We are strong. We are confident. We can overcome any challenge together!

2018 marks the 17th 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 a 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!