Chin Kiong Tee is a junior at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. In the summer of 2018, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

I was born in an ordinary family and a number of my relatives were touched by cancer. Besides grief and visiting them more often, I was not aware, nor paid attention, to how cancer can affect one’s life. My perspective on cancer changed on July 2014 when my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Instead of saying that my dad was a victim of cancer, he is more like a cancer fighter as he struggles to combat cancer until his last moment of his life. One of the significant actions he made to combat cancer was that he decided to give up smoking; something that had been following him for 25 years. I witnessed the suffering that he had to go through throughout the whole process. I was frustrated and felt helpless because there was nothing that I could do to help reduce his suffering, especially when he couldn't consume any food and had to rely on nutrition drip in the last 3 months of his life. I have experienced being a part of life against cancer, and this unique experience urge me to posses a strong desire of contributing to cancer community.

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

I want to become a rider with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to motivate, inspire as well as to help young adults fighting cancer. I understand the feelings of cancer survivors and their family. I would be someone who is available and always ready to provide help, and love for them. At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for my uncles and aunts who supported my dad mentally and financially when he was going through the tough days of his life. As a student myself, I am fully aware that I do not have the financial ability to provide sufficient funding for the cancer community. However, I will do whatever is within my power to positively impact the cause by spreading the awareness of cancer and fundraising for cancer community. My mission for this trip aligns with the mission of Ulman Cancer Fund With Young Adults in that I am really looking forward to a world in which no young adult faces cancer alone. Last but not least, this is certainly an opportunity of a lifetime of being able to ride across the States.

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!