Pelotonia

The Victoria's Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers was established in 2021, in partnership with Pelotonia and the American Association for Cancer Research, to fund innovative research aimed at progressing outcomes for women's cancers and invest in the next generation of women scientists.   The program is currently accepting applications for its Women’s Cancers Rising Innovator Research Grants. These $700,000, three-year grants support research on breast or gynecologic cancer, with a focus on health disparities encouraged.    Eligible projects can span basic, translational, clinical or population sciences and must be directly relevant to advancing the understanding, prevention, early detection, diagnosis or treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers. The letter of intent deadline is Thursday, January 23.   Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gU-BHUbd

Introducing the 2024 Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year, Dr. Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate! 🙌 Dr. Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate has made significant strides in advancing pancreatic cancer research with the support of Pelotonia funding. As Director of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and co-leader of the Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute, her research focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest human malignancies. Since joining Ohio State in 2015, Dr. Cruz-Monserrate’s laboratory has received more than $350,000 from Pelotonia, which has funded multiple research trainees and supported two Idea Grants that investigate the role of adipose tissue in pancreatic cancer progression. This support has been instrumental in generating preliminary data for her newest federally-funded research grant from the National Institiute of Health and National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI R01 Grant), which explores metabolic interactions within the pancreatic cancer microenvironment. Dr. Cruz-Monserrate's work, alongside the Pelotonia community’s support for cancer research like hers, is contributing to significant progress for pancreatic cancer patients, including increased survival rates. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients has increased from six percent in 2000 to nearly 13 percent in 2024! Learn more through her blog post: https://lnkd.in/g7r7Sz43

As we continue celebrating International Volunteer Day, we're proud to honor Rob McKay as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year! 🎊 Rob has served as a Lead Volunteer for nine years and has become a familiar, welcoming face to countless participants and supporters throughout Ride Weekend. As the leader of Volunteer check-in at both Opening Ceremony and the McFerson Commons start, Rob likely interacts with more Volunteers than anyone else. He has also led Volunteer Check-In at Gravel Day for the past two years, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring a smooth experience for all participants. In addition, Rob is the go-to Volunteer for numerous projects that make a big impact. Throughout his years of service, Rob has supported many aspects of Pelotonia operations, including volunteering at the front desk, managing Volunteer check-in lists for various events, leading stewardship send and credential packing shifts at the office, attending every warehouse shift, and even supporting accounting tasks. Rob’s dedication, attention to detail, and positive spirit make him an exceptional Volunteer – and possibly most importantly, he always brings a smile to every task. Check out Rob's feature on the Pelotonia Blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gvkdYAVf Stay tuned as we highlight our final Pelotonia Award recipient tomorrow! #EndingCancer

Get to know the 2024 Pelotonia Legacy Award Winner: Karl Koon! 💚 Karl Koon has created a legacy within the Pelotonia community, dedicating 16 years as a Rider and High Roller, and personally raising over $110,000 for innovative cancer research. For the past 14 years, he has also served as the captain of Team Buckeye, which has raised $40 million to date in support of the fight against cancer. This year Pelotonia’s mission became even more personal to Karl. He was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and began treatment at The James in February 2024. His chemotherapy is a pill taken twice daily called Acalabrutinib, which was a breakthrough therapy that was largely developed through research by OSUCCC – James scientists and physicians with Pelotonia funding support. Karl’s leadership and generosity have only strengthened as a Survivor. Karl recently retired, but his legacy will live on and inspire future Team Buckeye participants. Karl is Living Proof of the impact of scientific dollars, made possible by the generous support of the Pelotonia community. So many are grateful for his unparalleled passion for the mission and the difference it continues to make. Read more about Karl in the Pelotonia Blog: https://lnkd.in/gEgXtgkK Stay tuned as we feature other Pelotonia 2024 Award winners throughout the week! #EndingCancer

Meet Shirley Jordan, our 2024 Mary Hyatt Courage Award Winner! 🙌 Shirley Jordan is a 16-Year Lead Volunteer who has been a vital part of Pelotonia since the first year. Shirley’s dedication shines through her leadership of one of the longest Ride Weekend Volunteer shifts: Bike Management at McFerson Commons in Downtown Columbus from Friday morning through Sunday evening. Additionally, she has been a Gravel Day Lead Volunteer for the past two years. Despite battling her own cancer diagnosis, and enduring multiple recurrences, surgeries, and treatment plans, Shirley continues to show up for the Pelotonia community with an unwavering spirit. This year, just two weeks after having surgery to remove a tumor, Shirley once again led her team of Volunteers for the entire Ride Weekend. She faces her journey as a Survivor with incredible bravery and strength, and even as she’s fought a long battle as Living Proof, Shirley humbly considers herself “incredibly lucky.” The Pelotonia community is even luckier to benefit from her volunteerism and so much more! Learn more about Shirley's story through the Pelotonia Blog: https://lnkd.in/gy_9E-DY Stay tuned as we feature the other 2024 Pelotonia Award winners throughout the week! #EndingCancer

It's #GivingTuesday and today is a perfect day to donate to life-saving cancer research! Make a year-end gift to Pelotonia today at pelotonia.org/give. For an even greater impact, check with your employer as many companies have a matching gift program that may even double your donation today! Thank you for your support! Together, we are #EndingCancer 💚

Introducing our other First-Year Rider Award winner: Kyle Wenker! 🎊 Kyle dedicated his ride to his late wife, Megan, who passed away on Christmas Day 2023 from stage IV lung cancer. Kyle was awarded the First-Year Rider Award due to his strength, commitment, and perseverance in the fight against cancer. Kyle’s participation in Pelotonia honors Megan’s legacy as an active, vibrant person who loved cycling. Joining the Simply Community Peloton, he raised $15,765 this year for innovative cancer research! Over two days, Kyle rode 190 miles alongside his brother-in-law. At the finish line, he was met by Megan’s family, his two young children, and a network of loved ones inspired by his passion. He described his ride as a “beautiful ode” to Megan that reflects why Pelotonia exists: to channel grief into hope and join a community honoring loved ones lost through investing in life-saving cancer research for others impacted by cancer. To learn more about Kyle's inspiring story, check out his feature on the Pelotonia Blog: https://lnkd.in/gvXasfu8 Stay tuned as we feature the rest of the 2024 Pelotonia Award winners throughout the week! #EndingCancer

This week, we are highlighting the 2024 Pelotonia Award winners daily on our social channels. To kick off the week of celebrations, we're introducing one of our First-Year Rider Award Winners... Sarah Hagan! 🎉 Sarah was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in October 2023. Over the next ten months, Sarah faced numerous medical challenges that tested her both physically and emotionally, starting her chemotherapy from February to May of this year. During all of this, Sarah remained committed to riding in Pelotonia and her team, Designer Brands/DSW Peloton. Throughout her six weeks of radiation in June and July, Sarah participated in training rides, embodying the perseverance and resilience of Living Proof. On August 2, the same day as Pelotonia Opening Ceremony, Sarah completed her final radiation session and was declared cancer-free! The very next day, she rode the 20-mile route and crossed the finish line with her teammates. Sarah’s journey is a powerful testament to her unwavering dedication to supporting Pelotonia’s mission, turning her personal cancer fight into a symbol of hope and triumph that not only inspires her team members, but the entire Pelotonia community. To learn more about Sarah's incredible story, check out her feature on the Pelotonia Blog: https://lnkd.in/gwEH3DTx Stay tuned as we feature the rest of the 2024 Pelotonia Award winners throughout the week! #EndingCancer

Our partners make Pelotonia possible. Pelotonia’s current funding partners - American Electric Power, Bath & Body Works, Huntington National Bank, Peggy & Richard Santulli, Victoria’s Secret & Co., Ariel Corporation, The Haslam 3 Foundation, M/I Homes, Inc., Safelite, Perio, Inc. (Barbasol Brands), Cardinal Health, Diamond Hill, Nationwide Insurance and Pharmavite - help bring the inspiring event experiences of Pelotonia to life. Our generous funding partners provide operational support to the organization, allowing Pelotonia to donate 100% of the $26,200,095 you raised this year directly to life-saving cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute. Thank you to our funding partners! Together, we are #EndingCancer.

Truly an honor to represent the Pelotonia community today at Ohio Stadium presenting a check to Dr. David Cohn, Interim CEO of the James Cancer Hospital, and Dr. John Warner, CEO of the Wexner Medical Center! This check represents and celebrates the total amount raised by the Pelotonia community in 2024! This $26.2+ million will directly fund innovative cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute! A huge thank you to Dave Ciesinski, Tanny Crane, TJ Drought, DJ and Sarah Effler, Michael and Cynthia Gardner, and Lisa and Alan Hinson for representing the Pelotonia community on the field today! And, thanks to Steve Steinour, Huntington CEO and Pelotonia Board Member for joining us on the field as well! #EndingCancer ❤️🏈