One night about a year ago, UMass student Zachary Boyer had a conversation with fellow classmate and fraternity brother Evan Foster about a 4,000-mile, cross-country bike ride that Boyer had taken part in a few years earlier.

During the conversation, Foster committed to taking part in this summer’s version of the “4K for Cancer” event alongside Boyer.

“I set a reminder in my phone: ‘4K with Evan,’” said Boyer, an Assonet resident who is majoring in Crime and Justice Studies. “It’s still in my phone.”

Not only is the reminder still in Boyer’s phone, but the two will depart for Baltimore on Thursday for the launch of the 70-day ride. They will join several hundred other college-aged riders ready to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

“He just kind of mentioned it one night and I just went with it,” said Foster, a Plymouth native and Marketing major.

The ride is organized through the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, which since 2001 has inspired hundreds of college students to take part in its efforts in battling cancer.

To start, the ride takes the two from Baltimore through Pennsylvania and over the Appalachian Mountains. From there, they will head to Michigan, by the Great Lakes, and on to Chicago. They will then travel across the western United States to places like Mt. Rushmore, Glacier National Park, the North Cascades National Parks, and the San Juan Islands in Washington before ending in Seattle.

The group will stay in places like churches, at schools, hospitals and community centers.

“Wherever they’ll let a bunch of sweaty college students sleep on the floor,” said Boyer.

He said his last ride, which ended in Portland, Oregon, was life-changing, hence his return to the road this year.

“It was literally the best summer of my life, hands down,” he said. “Everyone (both in the group and along the road) has a connection to cancer, from the small communities to large. It really overwhelms and you don’t even realize you did it until two months later.”

Together, the duo has raised over $9,000 for the fund, surpassing the $4,500 minimum each required to participate.

“Everyone tries to raise as much as possible throughout the year,” said Foster, who noted that Trek Bicycles donates bikes to riders after they’ve raised $2,500.

Foster said he doesn’t have any family connections to cancer, but a friend in her mid-twenties was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She’s doing much, much better,” said Foster. “I definitely want to do my part and help out. I’m just here to help.”

Boyer said going into his last ride, he personally hadn’t been connected to anyone affected by cancer, but within two months of his trip, he received word his aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Three months later, his mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

“Generally, it’s people who have been affected by cancer and want to help,” he said of the group of riders. “So many people have been affected by it. Every team probably has about two or three (cancer survivors).”

To follow along with the duo, visit http://4kforcancer.org/profiles/zach-boyer/ and http://4kforcancer.org/profiles/evan-foster/