Pelotonia, a grassroots organization that raises money to accelerate funding for innovative cancer research, announced today that riders, virtual riders, and volunteers raised a record-breaking $27.4 million this year to benefit cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). This brings the organization’s ten-year total to more than $184 million. Donors from all 50 states and more than 60 countries contributed to the funds raised by the 326 pelotons.
To recognize this milestone, Pelotonia hosted an event in Columbus celebrating the community’s impact on cancer research. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, camaraderie and incredible stories of impact, community and survivorship from Pelotonia participants. The pinnacle of the celebration included the formal check presentation to the OSUCCC – James for $27.4 million dollars.
“Tonight we pause to celebrate not only what we’ve accomplished in 2018, but the remarkable impact this movement has made in ten short years,” said Doug Ulman, Pelotonia President & CEO. “The tenacity, fortitude and strength of character of every rider, virtual rider, volunteer, partner and staff member has brought us to this moment – more than $184 million raised for innovative cancer research.”
“Cancer is an extremely complicated set of diseases. We must continually advance our knowledge of its mechanisms through research – and that takes talent and financial resources,” said Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD, director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Pelotonia funds allow us to consistently invest in the strongest research ideas. That momentum is critical in our mission of creating a cancer-free world.”
More Pelotonia Facts
Since its founding in 2008, Pelotonia has grown into a movement that inspires meaningful collective action by mobilizing purpose-driven communities and accelerating funding for innovative cancer research. In its first decade, the Pelotonia community has made some very notable achievements that include:
- Raising and investing more than $184 million for innovative cancer research.
- Supporting the groundbreaking clinical trials of Ibrutinib, which is now FDA approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma.
- Participation from more than 25,000 unique riders from all 50 states and 21 countries and more than one million donations from all 50 states and 70 countries.
- Funding The Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative, which is estimated to have saved more than 1,000 years of life among those screened.
Thanks to Pelotonia’s major funding partners, Pelotonia is able to donate 100 percent of every dollar raised by riders, virtual riders and volunteers directly to the OSUCCC – James. Pelotonia dollars support six major areas at the OSUCCC – James, including:
- Intramural Research Program: This program funds Idea Grants, clinical trials and other initiatives proposed by teams of faculty researchers who need to gather early data for promising projects that may lead to larger external grants later. For example, 134 Idea Grants have been funded to date for OSUCCC – James research teams with transformational ideas. These awardees are selected through a peer-review process conducted by both internal and external scientists not competing for grants in the current funding year.
- Fellowship Program: Funding has been awarded to 479 undergraduate, graduate, medical and postdoctoral student fellowships at The Ohio State University through an annual allocation of $2 million in Pelotonia revenue.
- New Recruit Research Support: Funds raised by Pelotonia have helped invest in the labs of newly recruited junior and senior investigators so they can continue their research upon arrival at Ohio State. A total of 121 researchers have been recipients of Pelotonia support to further their crucial work.
- Instruments of Discovery: Pelotonia funds are allocated to help purchase state-of-the-art equipment needed for cutting-edge cancer research.
- Statewide Initiatives: Pelotonia is funding three statewide clinical research studies focused on colorectal, lung and endometrial cancers. These studies are conducted in partnership with hospitals across the state of Ohio.
- Strategic Research Investments: Pelotonia funds support such initiatives as a Drug Development Institute, Digital Pathology and a Total Cancer Care® protocol at the OSUCCC – James.
On August 4-5, 2018, a record-breaking 8,470 riders and 3,056 volunteers from more than 40 states and 13 countries participated in ten routes that ranged from 25 to 200 miles. In 2019, Pelotonia Ride Weekend is scheduled for August 2-4. Information about registering for next year’s ride will be available in early 2019 at www.pelotonia.org
About Pelotonia
Founded in 2008, Pelotonia was established with the objective to fund life-saving cancer research. As a centerpiece of its year-round fundraising efforts, Pelotonia hosts a three-day experience that includes a weekend of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. In ten years, Pelotonia has raised over $184 million for cancer research. Thanks to its generous funding partners—American Electric Power Foundation, Huntington Bank, L Brands Foundation, Peggy and Richard Santulli, Harold C. Schott Foundation, Lilly Oncology, Cardinal Health, Diamond Hill Capital Management and Nationwide – Pelotonia is able to direct 100 percent of every dollar raised by its participants to cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. For more information, visit pelotonia.org.
About the OSUCCC – James
The OSUCCC – James strives to create a cancer-free world by integrating scientific research with excellence in education and patient-centered care, a strategy that leads to better methods of prevention, detection and treatment. Ohio State is one of only 49 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only a few centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs sponsored by the NCI. As the cancer program’s 356-bed adult patient-care component, The James is one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has achieved Magnet® designation, the highest honor an organization can receive for quality patient care and professional nursing practice. At 21 floors and with more than 1.1 million square feet, The James is a transformational facility that fosters collaboration and integration of cancer research and clinical cancer care. For more information, visit cancer.osu.edu.
