Sampson Ipiankama knows firsthand how deeply cancer affects individuals, families, and communities. He spent five years helping cancer patients in Nigeria navigate the challenges of diagnosis and treatment.
“They see it like a death sentence in Nigeria. And so much has needs to be done,” he said.
During that time, Ipiankama assisted -- and at times advocated for -- 1,200 people. Several of them became close friends along a difficult journey.
“I've lost some of those patients to cancer, and some of them are currently my friends,” Ipiankama said.
Now pursuing a Ph.D. in human development and family sciences with a research focus on cancer survivorship at UCONN, Ipiankama is continuing his commitment to patients. After traveling more than 5,000 miles to the U.S., he’s adding 25 more in the Closer to Free Ride.
He was inspired to join after meeting his advisor, four-time cancer survivor Keith Bellizzi, and learning more about the ride.
“I was like, I need to do something like this because this is something I'm passionate about,” he said.
It is his first ride, and there are many moments that people look forward to throughout the day. Ipiankama says he’s heard about the Smilow Salute, where patients and staff are outside to cheer riders as they pass by the hospital.
“I think it will be interesting because seeing them would also keep me grounded on why I'm riding and the people that I'm riding for,” he said.
All of the money raised from the Closer to Free Ride goes to Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center to support patient care, services, research and survivorship programs. That was a big draw for him.
“I want a situation where the money raised is going directly to the people who need it the most,” Ipiankama said.
That’s a bit different from the options in Nigeria, where his friends Khadijat and Uju died from the disease, and his two friends, both named Gloria, are both breast cancer survivors. He’ll think of them on the ride.
“And their journey and how resilient they've been in Nigeria, a low resource setting.”
Through his Ph.D. studies, Ipiankama hopes to help improve cancer survivorship and treatment options in Nigeria.
“I want to see more people who are diagnosed with cancer go on to live a longer and happier life,” he said. “I also want to see them not being sad and depressed because they think their life is over.”
For Ipiankama, the ride represents a larger purpose — bringing awareness, hope, and support to people affected by cancer.
“This is bigger than just 25 miles for me,” he said. “It’s also making an impact and doing something that I’m passionate about.”
