Author: Gabbey Segura
Research Stories
2025 Impact Report: A Record-Breaking Year for the Pelotonia Community
| February 6, 2026
The 2025 Impact Report is now available!
This annual Impact Report is a collaboration between Pelotonia and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and honors the Pelotonia community’s passion for and belief in our mission of Ending Cancer this past year and beyond. Throughout its pages, you’ll discover highlights from Pelotonia’s community events, participant stories, innovative initiatives for increased impact, the vision of the OSUCCC – James, and many examples of research impact stories at the OSUCCC – James, made possible with the support of the Pelotonia community.
2025 was a record-breaking fundraising year for Pelotonia, thanks to how this community rallied together. Tens of thousands of participants, donors, partners, supporters, and researchers united, contributing their time and energy to accelerate innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James through Pelotonia.
We hope the content within this impact report celebrates everyone who has made Pelotonia possible to date, and will inspire even more to participate in 2026 as registration opens on March 4.
This is also a great resource for Pelotonia participants to use in their fundraising efforts, as every single dollar raised makes a difference with 100% directed to innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James. Keep an eye on our Fundraising Resources page as we add more tools and templates for participants to use the 2025 Impact Report in 2026 fundraising!
Read highlights from the report below, and click to view or download the full 2025 Impact Report!
ending cancer together
2025 Impact Report
This annual Impact Report is a collaboration between Pelotonia and the OSUCCC – James. In this report, explore highlights from community events and innovative initiatives which inspire the philanthropy accelerating critical funds for advancements in cancer research.
Pelotonia 2025 Highlights
The Pelotonia community raised $29.2 million for cancer research, contributing to a total of $339 million since 2009.
More than 12,000 individuals participated — through our signature events, Ride Weekend and Gravel Day, or as Challengers.
7,249 Riders and 352 Runners/Hikers rallied together.
980 cancer Survivors joined the mission — an all-time record.
A record 800 High Rollers — our top fundraisers — participated.
3,173 Volunteers served 17,866 hours.
Participants came from 12 countries and across 49 U.S. states (all except Alaska).
11 Pelotonia Kids rides raised more than $167,000 for pediatric cancer research.
The community rallied around the annual theme, Together as One.
We celebrated nine incredible individuals and one inspiring community with the Pelotonia Awards.
The Pelotonia Legacy Society includes passionate community members committed to long-term impact through planned giving.
Stories of innovative initiatives from Huntington Bank, Victoria's Secret, M/I Homes, RTRX, and Pelotonia Roundtable, inspire creative ways to increase impact.
Joe Apgar, Pelotonia CEO
Research Impact Highlights
Ohio State has recruited 300+ top cancer scientists with Pelotonia support.
Four individual spotlights feature a few of these bright talented, recruits — plus Dr. Glen Barber, recruited in 2024 was named to Citation Laureate for Nobel-class research.
7 new Pelotonia Idea Grants worth $1.8 million were awarded to support cutting-edge, early stage research.
A paradigm-shifting study, led by PIIO Director Dr. Zihai Li and funded by an Idea Grant, learns why the body's immune system T cells can fail, launching a new approach to immunotherapy treatment.
An Idea Grant is helping uncover contributions to non-small cell lung cancer and possible new treatments for this deadly disease.
Pelotonia funding supports statewide initiatives that promote early detection and better outcomes for colorectal, uterine, lung, and breast cancer in Ohio.
Beating Lung Cancer in Ohio has enrolled nearly 500 patients across 68 of Ohio's 88 counties. Research findings are informing care nationally.
An update on progress of the first drug fully developed at Ohio State for treating patients with solid tumors or non-Hodgkin lymphoma shares that it is expanding and will soon also be offered in a clinical trial for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Pelotonia funding supports the Clinical Trials Office, and there are 650+ clinical trials available at the OSUCCC – James.
More than $2.5 million for 22 scholarships were awarded for Pelotonia Scholars across various disciplines and levels.
734 Pelotonia Scholars from 53 countries and 36 U.S. states have been funded since 2010.
Scholars spotlights in this report feature research impacting chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), cancer genetics, and urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer.
A new first-in-human clinical trial for glioblastoma offers hope for patients with this aggressive form of brain cancer in a study led by investigators at the PIIO.
The first-of-its-kind, nationwide decentralized clinical trial conducted entirely by telehealth launched with support from an Idea Grant, led by Dr. Sameek Roychowdhury.
Kim Rathmell, OSUCCC – James CEO
In the News
World Cancer Day: Support the Ohio State Cancer Giving Challenge
| February 3, 2026
Kick off 2026 fundraising early with the Ohio State Cancer Giving Challenge from February 4-11!
February 4 is World Cancer Day, a moment to honor those touched by cancer and unite to improve the future of cancer care.
Pelotonia is proud to participate in the first-ever Ohio State Cancer Giving Challenge from today through February 11.
This campus-wide effort aims to accelerate cancer research and care at the OSUCCC – James. Consider supporting this campaign, which gives Pelotonia participants the opportunity to kick off their 2026 fundraising early before registration opens on March 4.
Your participation this week will help further our collective impact on Ending Cancer as 100% of every dollar raised will be directed to innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James.
Will you join the challenge?
To kick off your Pelotonia 2026 fundraising early before registration opens on March 4, we encourage participants to share their Pelotonia profile link with donors. This allows participants to fundraise at any point throughout the year (including now before 2026 registration opens). If you receive donations to your Pelotonia profile during this challenge, you will see those donations accounted for in your fundraising total once you register on or after March 4.
Follow these steps to start fundraising this week by sharing your profile with donors:
Sharing your unique profile link is the best way for donors to find and support you.
Log into your unique profile at my.pelotonia.org/sign-in.
Click the “Share” button next to your name to copy your URL.
Send your URL to friends and family, using the timeliness of World Cancer Day in your ask.
Fundraising resource
2025 impact report
Use this annual Impact Report, which was created in collaboration with the OSUCCC – James, in your fundraising! Share the stories of research impact within its pages with donors to support your fundraising efforts.
