Wow! How time flies! On Sunday August 16, 2015 I will be participating in my 4th triathlon, the 2015 Athleta Iron Girl Columbia, where I will swim, bike, and run to raise awareness and money for the Ulman Cancer Fund.

Recent life events have played havoc with my triathlon training program, so I’m hoping my year-round weight training and cardio program at my local YMCA will pull me through. I feel confident about the swim, which for me is the side-stroke. I’ve managed to complete several practices, including open water, for the entire length of the Iron Girl swim. And the 5K walk/run is quite manageable. For me, it’s the middle part of the Iron Girl that literally takes my breath away: that challenging hilly bike ride. Thankfully, like last year, my friends (the Johnson’s) have loaned me their road bike so I should be able to huff and puff a bit less than the hybrid bicycle years.

Once again, I dedicate my Team Fight participation to the memory of my first husband, John Duvall, who lost his battle with Ewings Sarcoma cancer in 1995 at the young age of 38, when Jean-Luc was 16 months old and Philippe was 5 years old. This past spring, in honor of the 20th anniversary of John’s death, we awarded the first annual John Duvall Memorial Scholarship, through the Ulman Cancer Fund, to a deserving student at Philippe’s alma mater, Savannah College of Art and Design. Andrew Freedman was chosen from a pool of qualifying candidates, whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who have financial need. Philippe and Jean-Luc, as well as several other friends and family members, helped to select the recipient of this scholarship. We were touched by the stories from all applicants, and we are determined to continue to honor John’s memory in this meaningful way.

Please consider contributing to the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, in support of our motto “Cancer changes lives, and so do we!” Your contribution will help support the continuation of the John Duvall Memorial Scholarship and the many important programs that the UCF provides. I sincerely appreciate any amount you can contribute to help young adults fight cancer. No amount is too small. And please think of me on August 16. Let me know if there is someone you’d like me to add to my list of “in memory of” or “in honor of.” I carry these names with me and recite them during my swim, on my bike, and during my run.

You can make a contribution on-line here. Alternatively, you can also send a check made payable to the: Ulman Cancer Fund, 921 E. Fort Avenue, Suite 325, Baltimore, MD 21230.  Please include a note that says you are supporting Cheryl Duvall.

Thanks so much for your support!

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults and their loved ones as they fight cancer and embrace survivorship. With your support, the Ulman Cancer Fund is able to provide multiple support services and resources for the young adult cancer community including:

• Cancer to 5K - a free, progressive, 12-week run/walk program designed to reintroduce cancer survivors to physical activity.
• Helping Others Fight - a volunteer program that provides basic services such as transportation to and from treatment, yard work, home repairs and delivery of chemo care bags to local cancer patients and their families so they can focus their energy on their battle with cancer and their well-being.
• 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 and 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.

​Thank you for all your time and effort to help make these programs and our mission possible!