Up to the Challenge: Individual and corporate goals powering Pelotonia

Beyond riding or volunteering, Pelotonia supporters can fundraise in a uniquely personal way by becoming Challengers. This program lets participants design up to five custom goals with a minimum fundraising commitment of $100. Challengers participate from anywhere in the world, and 100% of donations raised go directly to innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. We’re excited to share two inspiring stories of Challengers below. 

Project Grit

Inspired by the Backyard Ultra movement, Ryan Willis meticulously planned a running relay race from Cincinnati to Cleveland. He then recruited five friends to join him on this journey, each committing to tackle approximately 52 to 56 miles. 

All six teammates — Ryan, Joe Sanda, Grant Burks, Liam Bott, Cameron Balla, and Joel Craig — grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and shared personal connections to cancer. To give their effort greater meaning, they decided to fundraise for Pelotonia. They named the effort Project Grit, reflecting the determination, teamwork, and perseverance needed not only for their run but also for the fight against cancer. 

On May 2, 2025, the group set out across Ohio. Each runner covered roughly three miles at a time while the others rested, refueled, or stretched in an RV driven by friends and family. The RV then met the runner at the next exchange point, where teammates switched shifts and the relay continued north. Despite battling rain, the dark, and exhaustion, they stayed motivated and finished the 320-mile trek — jumping into Lake Erie just over 49 hours after leaving the Ohio River. Family and friends gathered at the finish to celebrate their remarkable achievement. 

The team raised more than $16,000 for Pelotonia. Ryan is considering another run next year, hoping to expand the group and inspire even more support for cancer research. 

Hi-Impact Program

Eight years ago, Rockbridge, a hospitality-centered investment firm, set out to engage its hotels in Pelotonia fundraising, and what began as a small idea has grown into a nationwide movement. The effort launched in 2018 as Make an Impact, with 14 hotels raising $19,000. Rebranded in 2021 as the HI-Impact Challenge (“HI” as an acronym for hospitality industry), it now unites more than 50 hotel and restaurant teams across the country to raise money for cancer research and has officially surpassed $1 million in total contributions. 

Each year, participating properties find creative ways to give back, from jeans-for-donations Fridays and yoga-and-mimosa classes to drag brunches and signature cocktails like the “Pelotonia Margarita.” Some hotel partners even collaborate with distributors to donate proceeds from beer or wine sales, demonstrating that small efforts multiplied across many teams can make a massive difference. 

The program also celebrates the people behind the effort through the HI-Impact Heisman award, which honors unsung heroes in hospitality. The award finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to RTRX, an immersive leadership gathering that unites business leaders from across the country to spark ideas, connection, and action in support of cancer research through Pelotonia. This year’s winner, Debra from Alabama, was honored for her remarkable spirit of gratitude and generosity. 

With more than $350,000 raised in 2025, HI-Impact proves the hospitality industry’s power to create lasting change, one act of generosity at a time. 

This article appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.