The Director's Perspective
Excitement builds with the annual approach of Pelotonia weekend, but everyone associated with this amazing event knows that it’s really a year-round venture.
Pelotonia, which began in 2009, has raised more than $106 million for cancer research at Ohio State. The event hinges not only on a climactic two-day bicycle tour each August by thousands of cyclists on routes of up to 180 miles between the Columbus area and Gambier, Ohio, but also on an abundance of grassroots fundraising that takes place throughout the year.
Besides riders and virtual riders seeking pledges and donations to support their ride or peloton (riding group), this fundraising effort comprises a multitude of events and initiatives — some large, some small, some traditional and some incredibly creative. The one thing they all have in common is their invaluable contribution toward Pelotonia’s one goal: end cancer.
Here are four examples of fundraising events created by members of Team Buckeye, the official superpeloton of The Ohio State University:
- A Taste of Pelotonia, in which delicious cuisines prepared by various Columbus restaurants and catering companies are available for sampling for a few hours at the OSUCCC – James
- A huge golf outing coordinated by the Bo’s Tire Barn peloton that raises more than $20,000 per year
- Sync Cancer, a peloton created by the Ohio State Synchronized Swim Team to honor a former teammate who died of breast cancer — members of this peloton are virtual riders who participate by swimming rather than riding a bike
- Movie Night in the ‘Shoe, a popular event staged by The Ohio State University Athletics peloton that enables guests, for just $5 apiece, to sit on the field at Ohio Stadium and watch a current-release movie on the giant scoreboard.
Imaginative fundraisers aren’t solely the domain of Team Buckeye — far from it. Events sponsored by Pelotonia’s many other pelotons, riders and family members range from designated “jean days” at work, to Vacation Bible School collections, to poker runs, to dog kisses, in which people pay to smooch a pooch owned by a young girl whose parents ride in Pelotonia and who donates the proceeds to our cause.
The ambitious creativity of Pelotonia participants perfectly matches our drive to pursue a cancer-free world. I believe we’ll get there some day. It’s a long haul, and I’m grateful to all who help lighten our shared journey.
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