“Liz! You are crazy.” I have heard this phrase more in the past few months than I have throughout my previous 22 years of life. In fact, if I had $5 for every time someone directed that phrase towards me, I would probably have surpassed my goal of raising $20,000.
When I first received news that I had been accepted to the 4K for Cancer, I was ecstatic. I called my dad to share the exciting news, and he was the first of many to tell me I was nuts. I initially set my fundraising goal for $6,000, hoping I would be able to raise more than the Ulman Cancer Fund’s required $4,500 per participant. I was immediately overwhelmed by the words of encouragement and amount of donations that came pouring in within my first few weeks of fundraising.
The love and support from my friends, my family, and even complete strangers fueled a fire inside of me. I decided to live #Fast&Furious a la Paul Walker and “go big or go home,” so I set a new goal to raise $20,000. For one individual, $20,000 is a lot of things; $20,000 is a down payment on a house or a brand new car. But for one organization, $20,000 is so much more. $20,000 will help preserve fertility of 10,000 young adults before they begin cancer treatments. $20,000 will pay to keep the lights on for 400 patients during these treatments. $20,000 will provide college scholarships to 8 young adults battling cancer.
Every year nearly 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with #cancer. In fact, a cancer diagnosis between the ages of 15 and 40 is nearly eight times more common than such a diagnosis during the first 15 years of life. Cancer is the leading disease killer among 20-39 year olds.
These staggering statistics, like me, are crazy. I am crazy enough to not worry about the inevitable blisters, or muscle aches and pains along this journey. I am crazy enough to not care how often I sleep on the floor. I am crazy enough to believe that this run across America has the power to change the lives of so many young adults. So go ahead and call me crazy people, because I assure you, I am. 
Will you help me reach $20,000? Donate here
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