Author: The Pelotonia Team
In the News
Pelotonia to Open 2023 Registration on March 1
| February 27, 2023
COLUMBUS, OH (February 27, 2023) – Pelotonia will launch registration for the 2023 Ride Weekend and a new Gravel Day event on Wednesday, March 1 at 12 p.m. EST. With more than $258 million raised and now in its 15thyear, Pelotonia is eager to continue working toward the community’s One Goal to advance innovative cancer research. Pelotonia’s full slate of events includes Opening Ceremony on August 4, Ride Weekend on August 5-6, and the inaugural Gravel Day on September 30.
Registration will be available at pelotonia.org/register for the full range of Pelotonia participants – Riders, Volunteers and Challengers – on March 1.
Ride Weekend will be both nostalgic and new, paying homage to years past while creating fresh experiences for the community with routes ranging from 24 miles to 184 miles and fundraising commitments starting at $1,250. Pelotonia’s reimagined routes this year will provide a memorable experience for Riders, including travel through Pickerington honoring past rides, choose-your-own-hills options for the 77-mile and 100-mile ride, and an all-new route for Sunday’s 37-mile loop. One-day ride options range from 24 to 102-mile routes and overnight stays at Kenyon College are available for anyone completing the two-day ride options of 160-mile or 184-mile routes. To learn more about Ride Weekend volunteer opportunities, a full list of activities is available on Pelotonia’s website.
Pelotonia’s new Gravel Day event, featuring the increasingly popular style of cycling called gravel riding, will offer one-day routes with 30 and 50-mile loops in the Nelsonville, Ohio, area. Both Gravel Day routes will have a minimum fundraising commitment of $1,500. Often considered more adventurous than traditional road riding, Gravel Day will extend the Pelotonia experience and feature unpaved roads through picturesque landscapes for a breathtaking ride. Additional Gravel Day route details and volunteer opportunities will be announced in the spring.
“As a cancer survivor myself, I am personally grateful to be a part of the Pelotonia community. I’m consistently amazed by how far cancer research has advanced since our first Ride in 2009,” said Joe Apgar, president of Pelotonia.“Because of our important work, there will be cancer survivors riding in Pelotonia this year that may have had a completely different outcome 15 years ago. That’s why we continue to do what we do — and we’re eager to continue growing support for innovative cancer research that will save lives locally, regionally, and around the world.”
To kick off 2023 registration, Pelotonia will host a party on Friday, March 3 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Huntington Club at Lower.com Field. The Pelotonia community and those interested in learning more about how to get involved are invited to attend this free event. Attendees can grab a 2023 yard sign and magnet, take a photo on the pitch and much more!
Thanks to the generous support of funding partners, 100 percent of every dollar raised by Pelotonia participants is directed to ground-breaking cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
“With 100 percent of every participant-raised dollar going directly to fighting cancer, Pelotonia has been critical to supporting breakthrough ideas from some of the brightest cancer researchers in the world, bringing us all closer to a future that’s cancer free,” said Dr. Raphael Pollock, director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.“One example of Pelotonia’s impact is how pathology – the examination of tissue samples to help doctors diagnose cancer – has advanced. With Pelotonia funding, we have brought a digital pathology program to Ohio State that impacts patients far beyond Columbus, Ohio. This technology allows pathologists to analyze computerized, 3D images of tissue and pair them with clinical information to enable faster and more accurate diagnoses. This ensures physicians can match patients with the best treatments for their specific cancer. And because this technology allows our highly specialized team to do consults remotely, the impact of this program reaches well beyond central Ohio.”
In honor of its partnership and philanthropic support, the Pelotonia community was recently recognized by The Ohio State University with the naming of the new interdisciplinary research facility. The Pelotonia Research Center is scheduled to open in the university’s Carmenton innovation district later this summer. The building will be the new home of the Pelotonia Institute of Immuno-Oncology, dedicated to researching how to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
To learn more about the impact of Pelotonia dollars, including the work of The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, visit pelotonia.org/impact and pelotonia.org/institute.
Editor’s Note: Video and photo assets, including examples of the 2023 fundraising campaign designs, are available at https://pelotonia.box.com/s/rcn7scbqc1t9z8jnhmucpjsbmuwk8i5v
About Pelotonia
In 2023, Pelotonia celebrates 15 years of One Goal, accelerating funding for innovative cancer research, as it hosts its signature series of iconic and impactful cycling, entertainment, and volunteerism experiences. This year’s events include Opening Ceremony (August 4), Ride Weekend (August 5-6), a new Gravel Day event (September 30), and the Impact Celebration in November. To date, the Pelotonia community has raised more than $258 million. With support from generous funding partners – American Electric Power Foundation, Bath & Body Works, Huntington National Bank, Peggy & Richard Santulli, Victoria’s Secret, Safelite AutoGlass, Cardinal Health, Diamond Hill Capital Management and Nationwide Insurance – Pelotonia directs 100 percent of every dollar raised by participants to cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, including the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology. For more information, visit pelotonia.org.
Community Stories
2022 Awards: Volunteer of the Year, Sarah Buckley
| December 13, 2022
About Sarah
An 11-year volunteer and rockstar fundraiser, Sarah is well-known for being kind, reliable and hard-working. Whether it’s rolling posters, packing stewardship envelopes, or managing food and beverage at different sites, her dedication as a Lead Volunteer has created a profound impact on the Pelotonia community.
What does this cause mean to you?
It’s an opportunity for the whole community to come together. Cancer has taken so much from so many families, including mine, and this is a way to give back, knowing that 100% of the funds raised go directly to research.
What’s your favorite part of Ride Weekend?
I love being able to support the riders who spend so much time training and fundraising. From seeing hundreds of them launch in the morning to cheering them through the finish line, I want to make sure their Ride is an amazing experience!
What else would you like to share with the community?
I’m a huge college football fan! I’d also love to start traveling more.
Community Stories
2022 Awards: Research of the Year, Dr. Maria Mihaylova
| December 13, 2022
About Maria
Dr. Maria Milkova Mihaylova is being recognized for her outstanding achievements as a Pelotonia-funded researcher whose research focuses on understanding the effects of diet and aging on cellular metabolism. She has garnered many prestigious early career grants recently including the prominent Pew Scholar Award and a V Foundation Award, among others. Dr. Mihaylova has participated in Pelotonia since 2019 and she says she keeps coming back to show her gratitude for all the people who support scientists pursuing innovative research.
What does this cause mean to you?
Like many families, ours has also been affected by cancer. One of the reasons I wanted to go into cancer research was because of my grandmother, who passed away at an early age from metastatic breast cancer. She lived in a time and place where cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments were not an option. We have come such a long way and yet, there is so much more left to do. Organizations like Pelotonia allow researchers to think outside the box and do more innovative work that may not be funded by traditional mechanisms.
What’s your favorite part of Ride Weekend?
I will not forget my first experience with the Ride itself. As scientists, we are almost always behind the scenes, on the research bench and rarely interact with patients that our research may impact. It is amazing to experience an opportunity to do so! The togetherness, support and gratitude from survivors and their families during the ride weekend is both very moving and motivating to keep doing the work that we and our trainees do!
What else would you like to share with the community?
My family moved quite a bit when I was a kid and, as a result, I got to live on three different continents by the time I was a teenager. I think that gave me a good perspective on the ways of life across different cultures. I love that science brings so many people together from diverse backgrounds, which facilitates the exchange of ideas and the appreciation of different perspectives.
Community Stories
2022 Awards: Mary Hyatt Courage Award, Monda DeWeese
| December 13, 2022
About Monda
Monda and her family have participated in all 14 Pelotonia Ride Weekends as Lead Volunteers. They have been there from the first routes that came through their town of Nelsonville, to recent years downtown. Prior to Monda’s first year as a Lead Volunteer, she remembers sitting in the Pelotonia office for many nights planning routes, trying to determine what on earth a Water Monster was and the appropriate ratio of Gatorade mix. She has often said that Pelotonia fuels her. Without question, Monda keeps returning because of the camaraderie of the Pelotonia family.
What does this cause mean to you?
I grew up in a multigenerational family where we took care of each other. Growing up, seven of my family members battled cancer. Then my husband, Bill, began his fight of 17 recurrences of bladder cancer in 15 years, and then my Melanoma battle began in 2015. My passion and commitment come from my family, it’s just how I learned to be truly present during the fight. That is not all of my why – our family has long known that research is where it‘s at. We participate so that our daughter, Parker, doesn’t have to fight, so our future grandchildren and the generations of our family we won’t ever even get to meet don’t have to fight.
What’s your favorite part of Ride Weekend?
Once many questions have been asked and answered, just before the first riders are moved from staging into the chute, I sneak away and head to the top of a parking garage and look out. I look out at all the Riders as far as I can see, Volunteers making sure the Riders’ experience is the best they can make it, and the Pelotonia staff ensuring a smooth Ride – and what I see is the very best of humanity, the potential of what we can be if we all worked together for One Goal. I challenge anyone who looks out over the start line to believe our goal to end cancer is unattainable.
What else would you like to share with the community?
I retired after 31 years as the Executive Director of a correctional facility. Before that, I co-owned and operated a photography studio and camera shop for seven years. I have served three terms as the President of the Athens Herb Guild – personally growing herbs for culinary and crafting uses. My hobbies are photography, scrapbooking, paper crafting, and preserving stories for those who follow.
Community Stories
2022 Awards: Pelotonia Legacy Society, Dale Darnell
| December 13, 2022
About Dale
13 years ago, Dale joined the Pelotonia community for the first time in support of his wife, Debbie, who has since passed away from a courageous 24-year battle with cancer. In the years since his first Ride, Dale has raised more than $120,000 for cancer research, but his efforts go far beyond his fundraising. Dale has fearlessly served as the leader for the 4 THE Cure Peloton. Each year, they host six signature events that invite new community members to learn about Pelotonia’s mission while supporting the Peloton’s fundraising efforts. These efforts have generated nearly $650,000 in six years. Many agree, this impact would simply not be possible without him.
What does this cause mean to you?
Early July 2010, at a global manager meeting in Rome, Italy, I had a discussion regarding Pelotonia with Suzanne Bednarchik. She rode in Pelotonia’s first year, 2009, and raved about the event, which planted a seed in my mind. Three weeks later, back home in Ohio, I made the decision to participate in the Ride. Although I had just three weeks to prepare, I was confident that I could do the 180-mile ride. I was looking for a way of supporting Debbie’s cancer challenge… Pelotonia was it.
Since that first ride, I have remarried, helped start and grow Team 4 THE Cure, and raised over $120,000 for Pelotonia. Throughout this journey, the support I’ve received from my wife Janice has been tremendous and has helped me retain my focus.
What’s your favorite part of Ride Weekend?
My favorite part of Ride Weekend is the early part of the Ride with my wife, Janice, when everyone is pumped up and ready to go, proudly wearing their team jerseys. I love seeing the heartfelt personal messages people share.
What else would you like to share with the community?
I am finishing my 11th year on The James Foundation Board. I’m also a huge traveler – formerly flew frequently for work, now I prefer to drive, including to Florida and to Alabama, where my daughter lives. Plus, I can throw my bike on the back of my car!
Community Stories
2022 Awards: First-Year Rider Award, Steve Johnson
| December 13, 2022
About Steve
This was Steve’s first year participating in Pelotonia. He got involved in Pelotonia through David White, who had a vision of seeing 50 black cyclists riding 50 miles. After some planning, strategizing, and connecting with several fellow cycling clubs, the two formed one large Peloton, Wheels of Color, for this year’s ride. Steve would like to give a big shout-out to Black Girls Do Bike, Steady Pedaling, Trailblazers, Major Taylor Cycling Club, and Columbus Blackstar Cycling Group for helping to make Wheels of Color happen. He hopes to make Wheels of Color bigger and better in 2023, with more volunteers and riders covering all routes.
What does this cause mean to you?
In 2016, my dad passed away from prostate cancer. This has brought a new level of awareness to me. We all hear and know about cancer, but when it hits you or someone in your inner circle, it takes on a new meaning. Just knowing that the money I raise will help find a cure for this deadly disease. I am riding for those who can’t ride and “reaching people one pedal at a time”.
What’s your favorite part of Ride Weekend?
My favorite part of ride weekend is the morning of the event. I love seeing the smiling faces, talking to people, and hearing their stories. There’s no politics, no division, no competition, and everyone is so cheerful. At least for a short time, we all seem to be equal. I wish we could bottle this up and distribute it around the world.
What else would you like to share with the community?
I love spending time with my family, my four grandkids, and friends. I love hunting and anything that has to do with the outdoors. I enjoy our Wheels of Color Monday evening rides, when even people that haven’t ridden a bike in years come out to ride anywhere from two miles to 102 miles. Just seeing the smiles on their faces and hearing the excitement in their voices after the ride is over, that’s what brings me joy. My two favorite sayings are: “It takes a cycling village,” and, “A mile is a mile, no matter how fast or slow you ride it. At the end of the day, it’s still a mile.”
Community Stories
2021 Pelotonia Awards
| November 12, 2021
The Pelotonia Impact Awards were created to highlight those in the community who embody Pelotonia’s mission and are going above and beyond in different ways in support of cancer research.
Read below to discover this year’s winners:
Mary Hyatt Courage Award, awarded to Michael Nestor
The Mary Hyatt Courage Award recognizes a cancer survivor who embodies courage, perseverance and grit and has been instrumental in advancing the Pelotonia mission through grassroots activism, leadership, fundraising, and volunteerism.
Michael Nestor has dedicated his professional life to raising funds for cancer research, having worked at cancer nonprofits for more than a decade. He has participated in Pelotonia six times, raising more than $140,000 personally for the mission.
Last year, Michael himself was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. During his courageous fight and treatment at The James, Michael’s endless positivity, optimism and courage has inspired everyone around him.
First-Year Rider Award, awarded to Abigail McLean
The First-Year Rider Award recognizes a new member of the Pelotonia community who brings newfound energy, excitement and passion to recruitment, fundraising and advancing our mission of ending cancer.
Abigail McLean decided to participate in Pelotonia only a couple months before the actual event, while sitting around a table chatting with friends. She went out the next day, bought a bike, and has been passionate about the cause ever since. Abigail became known in the community initially because of #AbigailsRadiationRides: a series of Instagram posts where she rode her bike before going to her radiation appointments at The James.
As an outlet for processing her own cancer journey, Abigail embraced everything about the Pelotonia experience. She hosted a series of fundraising events, became the highest fundraising first-year participant ($23,235 raised) and completed a 100-mile Ride.
Pelotonia Legacy Award, awarded to Mike Perry, MD
The Pelotonia Legacy Award recognizes an individual who has participated as a Rider, Challenger or Volunteer for 10+ years, and has exhibited unparalleled leadership and passion for the Pelotonia mission.
Dr. Perry is someone who is naturally driven to give. He’s been a part of Pelotonia since the first Ride and his passion for the mission has only increased throughout the years. He’s well known in the community for the training rides he hosts, as well as the annual Velvet Ice Cream Ride that many use as a last ride before Pelotonia Ride Weekend (and an opportunity to indulge in some delicious treats).
As the Captain of teamCOPC, he has inspired and encouraged his team members to raise over $1.6 million for Pelotonia since its formation.
Volunteer of the Year Award, awarded to this year’s First Aid Lead Volunteers: Matt Briggs, Kelly Henschen, Nicole Kornder, MD, Kendra McCamey, MD
The Pelotonia Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a volunteer whose unselfish and dedicated service has made a significant difference in the Pelotonia community, while demonstrating a commitment to our collective One Goal.
The First Aid Lead Volunteers have been instrumental in Pelotonia’s 2021 safety plans for both Riders and Volunteers. These Volunteers have met monthly with Pelotonia staff to imagine (and then re-imagine) Ride Weekend and the safety precautions that were needed. This was all done in the midst of their own jobs as essential workers during a pandemic.
The countless hours of behind-the-scenes work they put in each year includes inventorying every supply bin (they know exactly how many band aids we have and need!), monitoring and recruiting Volunteers for all first aid shifts, training site leads for every rest stop and venue along the route, creating training/nutrition tips to share with the Pelotonia community, and more. As a community, we all have a safer and smoother experience because of these four individuals.
Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year Award, awarded to Jennifer Woyach, MD
The Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of a Pelotonia grant recipient. The award highlights the importance of career research funding and how support from the Pelotonia community is making a tangible difference in the work of researchers and the lives of patients.
Dr. Jennifer Woyach is a hematologist-oncologist who specializes in treating patients with blood cancers, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and B-cell lymphomas. She serves as an associate professor in the Division of Hematology at The Ohio State University, and was recently named co-leader of The Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James.
Dr. Woyach truly exemplifies what it means to be a leader in the fight against cancer – from treating patients, to receiving a Pelotonia Idea Grant and Pelotonia Fellow to help improve CLL treatment outcomes, to mentoring the next generation of researchers in her lab.
