IN THIS ISSUE [CYCLING CAROLINE COUNTY ... - Spokes Magazine

MARYLAND NATIVE DOUG ULMAN HEADS LANCE’S FOUNDATION
DOUG ULMAN, 31, A THREE-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR,
founded the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults in
1998 because he learned first hand that there is not
an adequate support network for young people affected
by cancer. Ulman also serves as head of the Lance
Armstrong Foundation (LAF).
The Ulman Cancer Fund is the primary beneficiary of
the 24 Hours of Booty, a bicycling event and fund raiser,
which has raised millions of dollars in Charlotte,
North Carolina where it began seven years ago. This
September 6-7, the 24 Hours of Booty, unveils its 2nd
event, welcoming cyclists to Columbia, Maryland.
Q. Can you tell us a little about your ties to the mid-
Atlantic region?
A. I was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland at
Howard County General Hospital. My mom and dad
still reside in Howard County, Md., in the house I
grew up in. My brother, Ken, lives in Howard County
with his wife, Jaki, and my two nieces Madeline and
Lilly. My brother has dedicated himself to public service
and is actually the County Executive for Howard
County. I love to get back to the area to visit family
and friends and participate in as many of the Ulman
Cancer Fund events as I can.
Q. You are a three-time cancer survivor, so you know
first-hand the challenges affected young people face.
Why did you ally yourself with Lance Armstrong and
his fund?
A. When I was first diagnosed with cancer in college
I read an article in the Brown University Alumni
Magazine about a cyclist who was going through
a similar cancer experience – his name was Lance
Armstrong. While Lance was a professional cyclist at
the time of his diagnosis, I was a Division I soccer player
and cancer interrupted much of what was normal
for me. Many of the things mentioned in the article
about Lance’s cancer experience resonated with the
challenges I was dealing with as a young adult facing
the disease. After reading the article I contacted Lance
and several years later we are now close friends and
we work together tirelessly to help men and women
affected by cancer. Lance and I are both very passionate
about fighting this disease and we both have a similar
competitive quality that pushes us towards improving
the cancer situation in our country.
Q. Your passion has always been soccer. We see you
were most valuable player of the Brown University
soccer team that won the Ivy League championship.
Why has bicycling become such an important role in
your life, and not soccer?
A. Since graduating from Brown and decreasing my
time on the soccer field, I have the opportunity to
broaden my athletic activities and cycling has been
one of those sports. I live in Austin, Texas which has
a huge cycling community and working for an organization
(the Lance Armstrong Foundation) that has
much of its early beginnings tied to cycling doesn’t
hurt my time on the bike.
Q. Are you a cyclist?A. Yes. As many of us would probably
say, I wish I got more time on the bike but work
and a busy travel schedule get in the way. I try to get
on the bike as much as possible both in Austin and
back home in Maryland when I visit. I keep a bike at
my parent’s house for when I visit. I run quite a bit
too so my cycling shares time with that hobby. I ran
the New York Marathon in 2006 and 2007 and Boston
Marathon in 2008 and raised money to support both
the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Ulman
Cancer Fund for Young Adults. In 2006, my New York
Marathon participation was in honor of my 10 year
anniversary of being a cancer survivor. I raised over
$100,000 to benefit the services and programs of the
LAF and UCF.
Q. How does the 24 Hours of Booty work, and is it
a race?
A. As the official 24-hour cycling event of the Lance
Armstrong Foundation and the only 24-hour road
cycling charity event in the country, 24 Hours of
Booty is a one-of-a-kind event to help fight cancer.
It is not a race, but a fun non-competitive event
geared for people of all ages and cycling ability levels.
Participants can ride as far as their inspiration takes
them, in teams or solo. Riders can cover three miles
to 300 miles or more. Because the course is situated
on a 2- to 3-mile loop, cyclists are never far from the
finish line. The event features round-the-clock road
closure with police support, fully catered meals and
beverages, free camping, free bike support, great
fund-raising awards, and many free products and
samples. The fun and energizing atmosphere is also
perfect for spectators, friends, families, survivors and
supporters.
Q. Will Lance be on hand for the 24 Hours of
Booty when it comes to Columbia, Maryland this
September?
A. Too early to tell. As most can imagine, between
work and family, Lance has a very busy schedule
and unfortunately cannot attend every event the
Foundation participates in. He is excited to see the
growth of 24 Hours of Booty and the support they
have provided to the LAF and other organizations
fighting cancer. He is also energized to see it expansion
include Columbia, Md., and support the organization
I started in college.
12 August 2008