Thanks to all who have embraced our cause, we have not been disappointed.
Pelotonia 15, the seventh installment of this annual grassroots bicycle tour that raises money for cancer research at Ohio State, produced still another ridership record and will likely yield another record yearly fundraising amount, elevating the overall seven-year total to well above the $82.34 million it generated in its first six years.
The Pelotonia 15 tour consisted of 277 registered pelotons, or riding groups, that collectively contained 7,981 riders from 40 states and 10 countries. It also benefited from more than 3,800 virtual riders (the exact total has yet to be announced) and over 2,700 volunteers.
Fundraising for Pelotonia 15 officially ended on Oct. 9, and we’ll soon learn this year’s final dollar total. At last report in early September, it was above $15 million and rising, a figure that had boosted the seven-year total to more than $97.41 million.
Thanks to Pelotonia’s Major Funding Partners — including L Brands, Huntington, and Richard and Peggy Santulli — every cent raised by riders, virtual riders and donors goes to cancer research at the OSUCCC – James to help our more than 300 researchers translate scientific discoveries to innovative patient care and prevention strategies that contribute to Pelotonia’s single goal of ending cancer.
I can’t express gratitude enough to the thousands of people from near and far who make this incredible event such a huge success. Without fundraising efforts such as Pelotonia — which has become the nation’s largest single-event cycling fundraiser based on ridership — many promising ideas for cancer research would go nowhere, and the field would languish, since government grants are often difficult to obtain.
This investment report briefly summarizes (on the facing page) how Pelotonia funds have been distributed over the event’s first six years. It also offers a look at our Pelotonia Fellowship Program for student researchers, our Idea Grant allocations of the past year to teams of faculty scientists, our most recent equipment purchases with Pelotonia support, findings from selected Pelotonia-supported studies, a couple of clinical trials boosted by Pelotonia dollars, and five recently recruited scientists whose work has received Pelotonia support.
I hope this report helps assure you that the money we are raising for Pelotonia is being put to good use in our continuing pursuit of a cancer-free world.
Michael A. Caligiuri, MD
Director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
CEO, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
John L. Marakas Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Foundation Chair in Cancer Research