Nonprofit to award scholarship to incoming KU freshman affected by cancer

WHAT: A national nonprofit dedicated to helping young adults impacted by cancer will award a scholarship to an incoming University of Kansas freshman today at 4 p.m. in front of the Kansas Union.

Adam Reeves, 18, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., will be presented with a scholarship check for $2,500 from 4K for Cancer, an organization whose members do cross-country bicycle rides to create awareness for young adults impacted by cancer and raise money for the Ulman Cancer Fund.

Reeves will receive his check from a 26-member bike team that’s traveling from Baltimore to San Francisco – a 4,000-mile trip that will take 70 days to complete. The team is scheduled to leave Kansas City, Mo., this morning and arrive in Lawrence in mid-afternoon.

Reeves’ mother was diagnosed with Stage II triple-negative breast cancer in December 2012. In his scholarship essay, Reeves wrote: “With her diagnosis came the realization of how vital she was to our daily lives, and with her incapacitated by chemotherapy treatments, my family had to adapt physically, emotionally, and financially. I, being the oldest of six kids, now shoulder a responsibility for my siblings. With Mom and Dad preoccupied with appointments and treatments, it has fallen on me to take more responsibility.”

Reeves is one of eight young adults nationally who will receive a scholarship from 4K for Cancer and the Ulman Cancer Fund.

WHEN: Friday, June 28 at 4 p.m.

WHERE: The Jayhawk sculpture in front of the Kansas Union.

CONTACT: Joe Monaco, Office of Public Affairs, 785-864-7100 or jmonaco@ku.edu.