Since 1997 – A leading voice in the young adult cancer movement, working at a grassroots level to support, educate, connect and empower young adult cancer survivors. We have been working tirelessly at both the community level and with our national partners to raise awareness of the young adult cancer issue and ensure all young adults and families impacted by cancer have a voice and the resources necessary to thrive.

At age 19, Doug Ulman was preparing for his sophomore year at Brown University. He was a healthy, active college student and Division I soccer player One event would change his life forever. During a routine jog, Doug began having problems breathing, something that was not unusual since he had suffered from asthma as a child. But this was different. After an ER visit, a consultation with a family physician and a CT scan, and ironically unrelated to his allergic breathing problem, Doug had surgery to remove a tumor from a rib in his back. Following several pathology consults the tumor was determined to be malignant. Cancer changed the course of Doug’s life.

When Doug returned to school in the fall of 1996, after his cancer diagnosis, he faced a wide range of unanticipated hurdles. He could not find information or support programs that addressed the myriad of issues that he had to deal with such as questions of nutrition, physical activity, relationships and dating, the emotional upheaval of facing his immortality, and a return to the classroom, among other concerns. Frustrated by the lack of resources and literature to speak to the unique needs of young adults affected by cancer, Doug and his family created The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to fill this gap.

When Doug returned home for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Ulman family and close friends gathered around the dining room table to talk about what they could do to help Doug and others in a similar situation. The first priorities for the group were finding a way to educate and connect young adults in addition to fundraising to finance the projects for this cause.

meet the founder. Doug Ulman

Doug Ulman is a three-time cancer survivor and national cancer survivorship advocate. After overcoming chondrosarcoma during his sophomore year in college and malignant melanoma twice since, in 1997 Doug founded the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, a non-profit organization to provide support, education and resources to young adults, their families and friends who are affected by cancer. He served as executive director of the Ulman Cancer Fund for four years from 1997 to 2001.

In 2001, Doug joined the Lance Armstrong Foundation as director of survivorship and was named the Foundation’s president and chief executive officer in January 2007. Founded by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, the Foundation unites people through programs and experiences to support cancer survivors and the fight against cancer.

Doug currently holds numerous civic and charitable board positions across the country and serves as chairman of the National Cancer Institute Director’s Consumer Liaison Group. He also sits on the Google Health Advisory Board and the executive board of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. In addition, Doug is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and co-founded of the LIVESTRONG™ Young Adult Alliance.

Doug has been interviewed for various news programs and publications including CNN, ABC Nightly News, NBC News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Austin American-Statesman and Sports Illustrated. His personal story has been featured in numerous books and magazines. Doug also has spoken to hundreds of organizations across the country on topics including social entrepreneurship, grassroots advocacy, cancer survivorship and cancer policy.

Doug has been honored with numerous awards for his service to the community. In 2002, he was selected from more than 20,000 individuals to appear on more than 15 million boxes of Wheaties Energy Crunch as an American Everyday Hero. In 2003, Doug was selected as the Austin Under-40 award winner in the healthcare category. He was honored by both the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and the Association of Oncology Social Workers in 2005.

Following his three cancer diagnoses, Doug returned to the soccer field and helped Brown University to three Ivy League Championships in four years. He has participated in 12 marathons, including a 100-mile ultramarathon in the Himalayan Mountains