Ulman 4K for Cancer bikers and runners stop by South Lake Tahoe on trip across the country

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What did you go on your summer vacation? If cycling or running across America was on your list, then perhaps you were part of the Ulman Foundation's 4k for Cancer.

Thirty-four riders and runners stopped in South Lake Tahoe last week for a well-deserved two-night layover at Temple Bat Yam before they started their final stretch to Saturday's finish at Baker Beach in San Francisco.

The group left Baltimore, Maryland on June 5 with 34 runners and cyclists and two support vans and they have been crossing the country ever since as they raise money for the Ulman Foundation. The 4K for Cancer is a program of the Ulman Foundation which is a non-profit organization that changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer.

Victoria "Tori" Gualario, 19, is part of Team Zion, the group that stopped in South Lake Tahoe. The Smith College student will return to school after her 4,500-mile journey and pursue her studies in environmental science. Tori fundraised prior to departing Maryland, bringing in $4,800 for the Ulman Foundation.

"Some days I'm pretty tired, but other days I find time to explore or hike and area," said Tori of her daily routine after riding 75-100 miles a day. Many of the group found time to explore South Lake Tahoe during their visit, others took time to catch up on rest and take showers.

Tori and a couple of other riders said their most memorable stretch across America was through Estes Park, Colorado and the highest, continuous paved road. The Trail Ridge Road provides of the Rocky Mountains from every angle.

All bikes have survived the journey though they have seen flat tires (15 in the group in one day in the Mid-West). The van carries chains, bike parts, and tubes. The Ulman Foundation provided each rider with a bike and each runner with two pairs of shoes.

Much of the journey is on busy roads with some near misses by vehicles for both runners and cyclists.

Each day (sometimes they start as early as 3 or 4 a.m.) begins with a devotion circle where they share stories of the young adults they are supporting, and remind them when facing a challenging day of the "whys."

Tori said she has surprised herself by pushing past perceived limitations and seeing how many different challenges she can meet head-on. Riding 100 miles in a day was one of those challenges.

So far, Tori said the Team Zion group has raised about $250,000 for the Foundation.

they spend nights along the way with host homes with most of the meals provided by the support communities. They will post on Facebook and other social media what they will need along the route, and people have given them an outpouring of support. One night near Pittsburg, Penn., they had no host and a local gym stepped up and welcomed the whole group to stay, providing them the coveted showers as well.

"We've seen a lot of generosity across the county," said Tori. "A lot of it comes on short notice."

Tori is the youngest at 19, and while the oldest is supposed to be 26, a two-time participant has joined the journey at 27 years old.

Glenn Lumbert is that "old guy" and is following his 2016 trip across America for Ulman. Lumbert was a psychology major on that first trip but switched to engineering upon return. He graduated from the University of Maine. He is working with the Navy as an engineer and they let him take two months off work to complete the trip.

"It is a lot different this time," said Glenn of his 2022 trip compared to six years ago. "I knew what to expect though I have less energy this time."

He said it has been great going to different places since the 2016 trip took the southern route and they ended in San Diego.

"You need to take care of your body," added Glenn.

Another of the cyclists is Briana Prado, a 23=year-old from San Diego. She recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Chemistry and Earth Science and heads to Colorado State in Boulder to start her master's degree in geochemistry this fall. This bike trip took her through her new college town for the first time.

"I learned more about patience on this trip," said Briana. "Taking on new challenges one mountain at a time, and how to prepare mentally."

Briana has learned to breathe, find the pace, and learned the value of community along the way.

She told her family she was going on the 4K ride only a week before departure so they wouldn't worry. They will be celebrating with her at the Baker Beach ending.

The family will need to prepare for the next one to do the cross-country trip as Briana's 14-year-old sister says she wants to do it when older, but only as a runner.

The runners have been doing the trip relay-style. One runs a leg and the support van meets them at the beginning of the next leg, picking up that runner and dropping off another.

Cassidy Dunn, 20, is one of those runners. She also just graduated from college. She was at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania and will return after this trip to start her MBA program. Cassidy had been on an internship prior to departure and they let her pause it for the 4k.

There are a total of seven runners in the group, each relay segment 6-16 miles.

Cassidy has been a runner for a while and started a running club in college so she could stay in the sport's community after an injury.

"It has been cool to come together as a group at the end of the day," said Cassidy. "We've been going the same route as the cyclists and we cheer each other on."

She was supposed to do the cross-country run in 2020 but COVID canceled that group trip. Instead, they did individual runs, logging them online and fundraising solo.

It has been great meeting all of the hosts along the way, said Cassidy, an experience one wouldn't get on a vacation.

She has been alternating her two pairs of shoes each day and working through a stress fracture and shin splints.

Cassidy had another reason to push her through the run - in the middle of training her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She writes her grandma's name on her leg for motivation each day.

Cassidy is looking forward to seeing her boyfriend, mother, and her beloved grandma at the finish line.

Temple Bat Yam has hosted the Ulman 4k for Cancer group for five years. Prior to that, Tahoe Douglas Rotary hosted the runners in separate homes. Now the runners line up the sleeping bags across the Temple's floors and Rabbi Evon Yakar worked with the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center for showers. The Rabbi said Sierra Cycle Works and Gary Bell have been very supportive, helping everyone get their bike ready for the last few days which took them down US395, through Yosemite, up to Napa and Santa Rosa for the last days into San Francisco.

At Temple Bat Yam, the congregation, Crystal Dairy, Safeway, Whole Foods, Ballys Tahoe, Grocery Outlet, and Tahoe Bagel all contributed to the layover meals.

For more information on the Ulman Foundation, visit https://ulmanfoundation.org/. Donations can be made in the name of Team Zion.