Meet the runners who will be representing Expect Miracles Foundation and raising funds for our mission at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1.
FOUNDATION SPONSOR
Devon C.
Career Beginnings to a Cancer Diagnosis
At just 24 years old, Devon C. was charting a promising course in his career when an unexpected diagnosis turned his world upside down. Having grown up in Hong Kong, Devon moved to the U.S. alone in 2016 and worked hard to build a promising future. He finished college at Merrimack College, earning a master’s degree in athletic training and landing a great job. But in July 2023, a testicular cancer diagnosis would force him to navigate one of the biggest challenges of his life, all while living across the world from most of his support system.
Facing a Life-Altering Diagnosis
Devon’s cancer journey began when he noticed a lump in May but waited a month before seeking medical attention, caught in a period of denial and fear. Once he did, things moved at lightning speed. Within a day of seeing a doctor, he was told it was very likely cancer. By the beginning of June he was undergoing surgery, and from July through February, he faced an exhausting series of treatments and decisions.
With cancer, every day was a mental battle. There weren’t many physical symptoms, but the mental toll was enormous. It was about figuring out the next step every day.
Navigating Financial Struggles Without a Safety Net
While fighting cancer, Devon faced another devastating blow: the company he worked for was sold, and his entire department was laid off. Suddenly, he found himself jobless, in treatment, and financially vulnerable.
The toughest part of my life at this time was trying to transition into adulthood while battling cancer. Student loans, insurance payments, medical bills, rent – I was trying to cover all my bases alone.
With his parents overseas and only his sister, a college student, nearby, Devon leaned heavily on close friends for emotional support. Yet, despite their help, the financial burden was overwhelming.
Finding Support Through EMF’s SAMFund
In September 2024, Devon’s friend Chris MacDonald, a member of YPEM and a dedicated supported of Expect Miracles Foundation (EMF), introduced him to the SAMFund grant program. Devon applied for a Fall 2024 Financial Assistance Grant, and when he learned he had been selected as a recipient, the sense of relief was profound.
When there’s an organization like EMF willing to step in and support you, it’s a huge moment of gratitude. It reminded me that there are people who care, even if they don’t know you personally.
Building Toward the Future
Today, Devon is cancer-free and forging a new career path in the medical device industry, inspired partly by his healthcare experiences during treatment. After witnessing firsthand the impact of medical technologies, he was drawn to the field, now working with cutting-edge surgical robotic systems aimed at improving patient outcomes.
My cancer journey made me want to be part of something meaningful. Utilizing technology to help patients resonated deeply with me after everything I went through.
Devon’s future goals include reducing his student loan debt, saving for a home, and investing in his professional development – all steps toward building a stable and independent life.
Words of Wisdom
To other young adults facing the financial aftermath of cancer, especially those without strong support systems, Devon offers this advice:
Stay positive, even though it’s incredibly hard. Be patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help – whether it’s emotional, financial, or otherwise. Cancer is tough, no doubt about it. One way or another, you get through the hump and you just keep moving forward, step by step.
About EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program
Due to the high costs associated with treatment and survivorship, young adults experience financial toxicity at a greater level than any other age group. SAMFund grants help to alleviate the financial burden resulting from cancer treatment. Thank you to donors for supporting EMF’s SAMFund Grant Program. Because of your generosity, we are helping young adult cancer survivors build bridges to help them get where they were intended to go before cancer disrupted their lives.
What SAMFund Grant Recipients Say
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Research and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Get Involved
Every dollar we raise brings us closer to a world free from the grip of cancer. But we can’t do it alone. Join us in this life saving journey. No matter who you are, where you come from, you have a place at Expect Miracles Foundation. Cancer knows no boundaries, and neither does our mission. Stand alongside us in the fight against cancer.
Make Miracles
Join us in the fight against cancer and be part of the community that is making miracles happen today. Your donation is an investment in our Innovation and Discovery Funds, which invests in life-saving cancer research, and EMF’s SAMFund, which provides financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors.
Invest in Hope
Corporate sponsors lead our life-saving mission and gain access to influential business networking opportunities at EMF events, which range from galas to golf tournaments and more. As a sponsor you can cultivate relationships in the financial services industry while having a life-changing impact on the cancer community.