From August 19th through the 21st, 2011, 4,986 riders from 38 states and four countries rode up to 180 miles on one of four route as a part of the third annual Pelotonia bicycle tour. With the support of family, friends, neighbors and associates, riders made it possible for this event to make an extraordinary contribution to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) in the amount of $13,108,639. Funds raised by the grassroots bicycle tour now total $25,467,212 for its first three years of operation.
A differentiating characteristic of Pelotonia is that 100 percent of every dollar raised by riders, virtual riders and volunteers is invested in research initiatives conducted by the OSUCCC – James. Pelotonia and its supporters are proud of this distinction, which is made possible by Pelotonia’s generous funding partners — Limited Brands Foundation, Huntington Bank, Richard and Peggy Santulli, American Electric Power Foundation, Nationwide Insurance and Cardinal Health Foundation. Pelotonia and its riders also benefit greatly from in-kind donations made by numerous locally and nationally-based companies.
Pelotonia staff presented the event’s 2011 contribution to Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee and Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Over 1,000 supporters attended this year’s check presentation at LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. Approximately 1,700 volunteers worked throughout the year on behalf of Pelotonia.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of Pelotonia riders, donors, sponsors and volunteers, all of the money raised by Pelotonia will help fund ‘high-risk, high-reward’ innovative cancer research at The Ohio State University,” says Dr. Caligiuri. “Some of our most recently funded research projects include team science awards with experts from disciplines across the University working together to generate new discoveries and exploring novel therapies for treating blood, breast, liver, prostate and skin cancers.”
The resources raised by Pelotonia support a variety of research projects addressing all aspects of cancer including diagnosis, treatment, psychosocial issues and prevention. The Pelotonia Fellowship Committee awards fellowships to distinguished student scientists in the University’s undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and medical school programs.
Pelotonia Idea Grants allow promising and creative investigators to engage in a variety of “high-risk, high-reward” cancer research projects. Projects currently funded by Idea Grants include early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer; tests to determine the most effective therapies for triple-negative breast cancer; influences of heredity in cancer; development of possible new prevention and treatment strategies; and the development of a new drug to fight breast cancer and leukemia.