Feng Nian Tey (Steven) is a freshman at Minerva Schools at KGI. In the summer of 2018, he 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 Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

My grandpa has always been a prominent figure in my life. Despite being a taciturn and occasionally hot-tempered person, he is the kind of guy who shows affection in very unorthodox ways – whether it is by giving me “scholarships” when I do well in my exams (they were basically wads of old, wrinkled cash concealed in red packets), or by grumbling about how I never eat my greens at the dinner table. I loved listening to him talk about his life story, and his tales of the world war have always been my absolute favorite.

This is why ever since my grandpa died of lung cancer in 2012, I have been fascinated by this invisible but merciless serpent that creeps within all spheres of our lives. The irony about my grandpa's death is that he wasn't even an avid smoker; in fact, he despised smokers, calling them the banes of humankind. But yet, somehow, this serpent of a disease still managed to sneak its way into his alveoli and eventually, suck the life out of his lungs. And as if that wasn’t enough, a second heartbreak came in 2016, when I lost my aunt to colon cancer. Despite going through rounds and rounds of excruciating chemo sessions, there was nothing she could do to escape her Fate when it finally came knocking on her door.

As a species, we have been plagued by cancer for centuries. However, I am optimistic that with enough time and resources, humans will be able to find a way to defeat this monster, and I would be honored to be a part of that cause.

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

To be completely honest, my grandpa’s death was actually one of the reasons I started running competitively in my freshman year of high school. This might sound silly, and I would never admit this out loud, but I’ve always treated my grandpa’s advice as a beacon whenever I’m chasing those visible yet frustratingly elusive miles. Therefore, being able to run across the United States (Forrest Gump reference anyone?) is one thing, but being able to do that with a cool squad in the name of cancer awareness is like a dream come true.

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!