Meet Hayden Kessinger ’23, a kinesiology student and intern with the Ulman Foundation, a Baltimore nonprofit serving young adults and adolescents navigating cancer. This summer, Kessinger will embark on one of the toughest mental and physical challenges of his life: a 4,000-mile bike ride across the country to help fight young adult cancer.
He recently shared what this adventure means to him, the highs and lows of training for an ultra endurance event and how his internship is preparing him for a job after graduation.
When and why did you decide to participate in the Ulman Foundation’s 4K for Cancer Ride this summer?
On June 27, I was pulled away from a game of FIFA by a GroupMe notification. When you read the words, “cancer”, “cross country”, “run”, and “cycling” in the same sentence, you tend to keep reading. I kept reading. Then I read it again. I read it a couple more times before I went to the [Ulman Foundation] website to confirm the opportunity. The “4K For Cancer cross country run and cycling trip” was real and exactly as advertised.
After graduating from community college in 2020 I began to feel a thirst for adventure … The opportunity for adventure that I had been asking for was now staring me directly in the eyes. On June 30, the day registration opened, I became the first registered rider for the 2023 team.
As a kinesiology student, I've preached the power of movement as medicine for the past few years, and now, a week after I receive my degree, I will have the opportunity to put my words into action.
How are training and fundraising going?
At the start of my training, I was in decent shape, although I had never cycled more than 30 miles in a day and was certainly not in any position to be riding hundreds of miles in a week. I was excited to put my mentality to the test - something I had never really done before. I knew it would be hard, but I honestly didn't expect to experience so many moments of pain, self-doubt and at times downright misery … It sounds counterintuitive at first, but experiencing struggle, discomfort or pain is great for personal growth.
My training hasn’t been exactly optimal for someone who, in two months, will be biking 50 plus miles every day. It consists of early morning spin classes at Regents, yoga in my bedroom, weight training at Eppley, occasional runs through my neighborhood and of course long outdoor rides (if I can muster up the courage to face the cold). I do my best to schedule workouts into my day and remove any potential excuses to skip them. The key for me has been to win the morning. If I can get up early and get moving right away, I’ve set myself up for a successful day.
As for fundraising, over the course of my previous 22 years, I might have raised a total of $100 in support of sports teams - and with virtually every cent coming from family. Now, nine months since registering, I’ve raised over $5,000 for the Ulman Foundation to support their mission of ensuring no young adult faces cancer alone.
How has your internship experience impacted you and prepared you for a career after graduation?
My internship as a mission and engagement coordinator and campus ambassador has reinforced my desire to serve others … It’s been an honor and a pleasure to speak to and connect with so many peers and strangers on and around campus.
The work I’ve done so far has also inspired me to explore different ways I can be of service and make a meaningful difference. I haven’t yet solidified a position to move into after we finish in August, but I hope to serve in an AmeriCorps program or another similar nonprofit.
Any advice for fellow Terps looking to fuse service and adventure as you have?
First, sign-up to ride with me! Or maybe sign-up to ride next summer. Other than that, I urge everyone to dedicate a few minutes each day to simply sit alone with no external inputs. The benefits may not be immediate or glaringly obvious, but soon enough you’ll find yourself with a much clearer picture of who you want to be, what you want to do and how to make it happen. Reflect on what you’re passionate about, and don’t be afraid to turn left when everyone else is turning right. Listen closely to your heart, and take a chance!
Kessinger’s journey across the country begins June 4 when he dips his rear bike tire in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. On August 12, after pedaling 4,000 miles through 11 states, will arrive at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Follow his progress on our Instagram account.