One of the things that attracted me to the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults from the start was the wide range of exciting events put on throughout the year.

But in the three years I’ve spent working as the Events & Marketing Director, I know that it’s truly the people behind the events who are the most inspiring.

Attendees, volunteers, and the people and partners who are responsible for the success of our events share one commonality – a hate of cancer and a desire to make a difference.

Without these people, we would not be able to raise the funds and awareness to one day ensure that no young adult will face cancer alone.

When I first started at Ulman in June of 2015, I was quickly immersed into the amazing, expansive Ulman community.

I went down to Charlotte, NC for 24 Hours of Booty, held by 24 Foundation. Ulman is a beneficiary of the sister event, 24 Baltimore, and I wanted to see what everyone was talking about – the 1,000+ cyclists riding up to 24 hours on a closed loop around a college in Charlotte.

It was then I realized how electrifying the event is.

Watching so many people of all ages and athletic levels churn out miles in honor or in memory of those they love, was incredibly inspirational and 24 Baltimore is no different.

I can’t wait for this year’s 24 Baltimore event, hosted on the Johns Hopkins University campus, on September 15 & 16. 

Later that summer I got to meet the fine folks of the Donna Sunderdick Memorial Pedal & Paddle, a fun cycling and swimming event in Columbia, MD.

I also watched as hundreds of runners and walkers came out to support the Pikesville 5K, which each summer benefits Ulman and the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce.

I got to know the lovely Silver family, who host the Eff Cancer Golf Scramble, now 10 years going, to remember their son, brother, and friend, Sean, just outside of Chicago, IL.

And I attended the Corridor Classic, put on by Corridor Mortgage Group, a two-day golf tournament that benefits Ulman and the Special Olympics of Maryland (coming up on September 12 & 13!). 

In the fall I headed out to Shavertown, PA, a mountainside town south of Scranton.

There, the Wood and Marquart families have been hosting Screw Cancer Brew Hope PA for the past 4 years – an event that brings together hundreds of supporters for an evening of silent and live auctions, entertainment, and inspiration.

You can read more about the Wood and Marquart families’ commitment to the young adult fight in our recent blog post.

Screw Cancer Brew Hope Baltimore is hosted by the Body of Young Adult Advisors (BOYAA).

These exceptional young professionals plan every detail of the event from date, to location, to music and food, and use their own connections to sell tickets and sponsorship.

Now hosted in the spring, the event is an amazing friend-raiser and fundraiser that is flourishing and helping expand our mission.

BOYAA was one of the first groups I met upon starting my Ulman voyage, and this group of talented people continue to push the boundaries so that more people can be served. 

Three years later from when I joined the team, our event portfolio and community is still growing. 

This past spring Charm City Builders spearheaded the first ever Fight Night, an amateur boxing event benefiting Ulman and the Amystrong Foundation. 

We also just had our first ever Screw Cancer Brew Hope Annapolis hosted by a dedicated board member.

Gilbane is hosting their annual golf tournament to benefit Ulman, and the new Cycle to Inspire will take place on November 10. 

And, our long-standing events are still going strong- the Beard Off is still growing (get it?!) and the Blue Jeans {& Bow Ties} Ball will be back for its 21st year this February!

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