Matthew McWilliams

Matthew is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. In the summer of 2012 he is riding with a group of college students on a 70 day, 4000+ mile bike ride from Baltimore to Portland.

What is your connection with the cancer community?

When I was a Junior in High School, my close friend and neighbor Ben Becker’s mother, Mrs. Patty Becker, passed away from cancer after fighting for years. She raised two successful children while working full-time. Her death profoundly affected me at a young age and was the first time that I was exposed to cancer. I learned that cancer effects more than just the person with the disease; friends and family feel the effects of the loss long after. Just recently, another one of my very close friends, Shaun Kravitz, lost his stepfather Howie to cancer. Howie was just like Mrs. Becker in that he was larger than life and a fighter. I got a chance to watch the Ravens game with Shaun, Howie, and his mother just a couple weeks before Howie passed and it was something that I will remember for my entire life. Despite the fact that he didn’t have much time left, he just seemed to love and appreciate his life so much. I remember sitting there and wishing there was something I could do to make his cancer go away. I want to do this 4000 mile trek to raise awareness and money for cancer as well as to get out and start appreciating and enjoying life, just as Patty and Howie would be doing if they were around right now.

Why are you riding the 4K for Cancer?

I want to raise awareness and funds for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to support the direct programs that they provide for young adults affected by cancer. I think this ride will be a great opportunity to grow as a person and to honor the lives of those who have lost the battle with cancer.