Joe Crosetto is a sophomore at The University of Saint Thomas. In the summer of 2019, he will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 70-day, 4000+ mile ride from Baltimore to Seattle, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Foundation.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

My Uncle Fred past away from Pancreatic Cancer. In his years of good health, he taught my dad how to fish. Pretty soon, my dad was doing just what Uncle Fred did with him to me, and I had my first passion. As a result, my connection to him is not based off an experience I personally had with him, but if you know me, and if you know how much fishing means to me, he had a significant impact on my life.

My wrestling coach in middle school, Coach Ritter, suffered a similar fate in 2015 from kidney cancer. Prior to this Coach Ritter took a role not many people would have taken: the demonstration dummy. Bear hugs, double legs, half nelsons, cradles...you name it, he was of the receiving end of it. Meanwhile, kids like me would ask for the most brutal of moves to be done again because I "didn't understand" the move.

Fast forward, two years after Coach Ritter passed away, I became a wrestling coach. Just like fishing went full circle so did coaching, and I am the demonstration dummy. And as I have taken a role that Coach Ritter had, I have realized how much he cared for our team. If he was willing to get bent out of shape, week after week, just so we could learn a move, he truly cared for us. And wished I knew that back in 2015, but I know it now.

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

I want to do it for 4 reasons:
1. Action speaks louder than words I can talk all I want about my care for cancer or my connection to cancer, but if I do nothing, it means nothing.
2. It is a great cause. This is pretty self-explanatory.
3. It is difficult. A lot of people see this as impossible. Biking 4,000 miles, coast to coast, is intimidating, but it is possible. I believe by stretching the realms of what I can do, things that look impossible to most, won't intimidate me.
4. I won't leave the same person. This trip is all about opening eyes. I will be with 24 other individuals who all have had their own run with not just cancer, but life as well. Between that and the first three things I said, I won't leave the same person.

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!