ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND

2026 Season Coming This Summer/Fall

Stay tuned for season updates, or contact us to learn more.

CANCER TO 5K

Take Your Life Back From Cancer… One Mile at a Time!

Cancer to 5K provides a community of support for cancer survivors through a free 12-week training program. The team will practice twice a week, one weekday and one weekend day, for 12 weeks.

Regardless of age, treatment status, or physical ability, survivor participants run/walk alongside coaches & volunteer teammates with the ultimate goal of completing a 5K goal race. While everyone’s cancer journey is different, many individuals can benefit from a weekly exercise routine.

Are you interested in joining Cancer to 5K but want to learn more?

Frequently Asked Questions

Survivor FAQs

We welcome participants of all fitness levels, and encourage everyone to participate in a safe, regular workout plan – whatever speed you choose!

Can I still participate if I'm not a 'young adult'?

Yes! Ulman’s services are typically designed to address the needs of young adult cancer survivors, but there is no age limit for Cancer to 5K. Survivors under age 18 must obtain parental consent and attend group practices with a parent.

Participation in the program is open to survivors regardless of treatment status. Each team is typically comprised of individuals currently in treatment, survivors recently finished with treatment and long-term survivors. Each individual will be required to submit a signed Physician’s Clearance form before their training season begins.

The training program is reserved for cancer survivors only. But experienced runners that are not survivors are encouraged to join our team as a Volunteer Teammate!

To make sure everyone is safe and ready on race day, participants must be able to attend at least 50% of the team practices during the season. If you cannot attend a practice, please let the coaches know ahead of time and they will provide you with a workout to complete at home for that day.

We’re in many different cities, but we aren’t everywhere. Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions about city locations.

Volunteer Teammate FAQs

Volunteer Teammates are running/walking partners who help us provide a community of support for survivor participants during group workouts and on race day. *Volunteer Teammates under the age of 18 must have an adult guardian present.*

Volunteer Sherpas do not have to be cancer survivors in order to participate in the program. We are looking for enthusiastic folks that want to share their love for physical activity. Survivor participants are encouraged to continue their involvement with the program as Volunteer Sherpas after their two years of participation.

We welcome volunteer teammates of all fitness levels to volunteer with the program. But a volunteer should be able to cover 3-4 miles and be capable of providing encouragement and guidance to survivor participants.

A typical team practice will last for approximately one hour. Coaches will match Volunteer Teammates up with survivor participants to complete each practice & goal race together. Volunteers will run at the survivor’s pace and monitor their well-being, provide pace leadership, and safely encourage them to meet their goal of crossing the finish line.

We ask that Volunteer Sherpas try to make as many group practices as possible. However, if you cannot attend a practice, please let the coaches know in advance so they can ensure they have enough Volunteer Sherpas to run with every survivor participant during that day’s practice.

Volunteer Teammates should bring a full water bottle and watch or smartphone to each practice.

There is no fee or fundraising required to volunteer with the program. All Volunteer Teammates will receive free Cancer to 5K training & race day gear. Volunteer Teammates are required to cover their own registration fee for the 5K goal race.

No! Volunteer Teammates’ roles are to support survivors during the practices & goal race. In the capacity in which they are volunteering, Volunteer Teammates are not qualified to provide medical advice to survivor participants.

Volunteer Teammates are not required to facilitate practices. The team’s coaches will lead each group practice, and provide the survivor participants with supplemental practices to complete on their own.

Support Your Local Cancer to 5K Team!

ULMAN FOUNDATION

About Us

If you’re new here — welcome! Let us introduce ourselves…

The Ulman Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 that provides resources, support, and community to young adults and their loved ones affected by cancer. In addition to our Cancer to 5K program, we also provide patient navigation services, support groups, and other social programs that are designed to help young adults affected by cancer navigate their journey, including the Ulman House, the nation’s only FREE hospitality home for adolescents and young adults and their caregivers while receiving treatment in Baltimore. We are dedicated to improving the lives of young adults affected by cancer by providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive.