On Aug. 28, more than 1,000 riders will come together in Columbus for the ride of a liftime. The Pelotonia Bike Tour, aiding cancer research, begins its 2-day trek from Columbus to Athens, with featured rider and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong leading the pack.
“Pelotonia plans to involve over 2,000 riders who hope will raise over $4 million in our inaugural year and over $40 million in our first five,” says Tom Lennox, the event's executive director.
Pelotonia is the brainchild of Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center director Dr. Michael Caligiuri. The idea came after Caligiuri witnessed a similar event in Massachusetts raise $250 million for cancer research throughout 29 years.
In order to help Pelotonia achieve its goals, the event has joined forces with NetJets as its corporate sponsor, which donated an initial $12.5 million to the tour.
“Because of NetJets' generous gift, Pelotonia will donate 100 percent of the funds raised to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute,” Lennox says.
Pelotonia’s association with Lance Armstrong is just as beneficial, with the Tour de France winner providing added recognition.
“The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Pelotonia have similar goals — cycling and ending cancer. In the inaugural year, getting the word out has been a major undertaking,” Lennox says. “Credibility is sometimes given to an event when a well-known figure is involved. At first, many people are drawn to the known personality but soon realize that the cause, not the celebrity, is what matters most."
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Although Armstrong’s participation is exciting for the community and event, Lennox says that aspect of Pelotonia isn’t the most important.
“One of the great rewards is that the community has come together to end cancer,” Lennox says. “Pelotonia signifies individuals coming together as a community to make the end goal of curing cancer easier.”
Pelotonia’s opening ceremonies will commence at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 with live music and remarks by Armstrong. It will take place on the lawn of Chemical Abstracts Service, 2540 Olentangy River Rd. For more information about the event, visit www.pelotonia.org.