L'Or Puymartin is a senior at Sewanee: The University of the South. In the summer of 2017 she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49 day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY to raise funds and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. 

What is your connection to the cancer community?

When I was a senior in high school, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Through treatments and frequent visits to the hospital, I was able to meet a lot of interesting and uplifting people that were in the same, unsettling situation as me. Earlier in high school, I spent my summer of 2012 volunteering at the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon in Beirut, mainly sitting in the waiting room, playing with kids that were undergoing chemotherapy or related treatments. Cancer has taken the lives of three of my grandparents, my best friend’s mother, and has impacted many of my family friends. 

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

While undergoing treatment for cancer is one of the most mentally and physically draining things that a person can go through, being surrounded by loving and supportive people (even if you aren't related whatsoever), I believe, is the most important part of the process. Personally, I am running 4,000 miles this summer to both show my love and support to the people that need it the most, and to say thank you and show how grateful I am to those who did the same for me while I was at my worst during senior year of high school. Love and support are crucial in the fight against cancer, and this is my way of showing it!

2017 marks the 16th 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 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!