High Rollers, Pelotonia’s top individual fundraisers who commit to raising at least $5,000, are known for setting ambitious goals and rallying their communities around the mission of Ending Cancer. But their impact extends well beyond fundraising totals. 

In honor of the 2025 High Rollers, Pelotonia donated brand-new children’s bicycles, presented during the 2025 Pelotonia Kids Linden ride. Pelotonia Kids is a series of cycling events designed to engage the next generation of Pelotonia participants. In collaboration with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), 100% of every Pelotonia Kids participant-raised dollar is directed to innovative pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. 

Through this donation, the 2025 High Rollers helped create a meaningful connection between the Pelotonia mission and the community it serves. The gift reflects a belief that cycling can empower young Riders while building a stronger and healthier community. For many of the children who attended, receiving a bike was more than a surprise, it was an opportunity to experience the confidence, independence, and excitement that comes with getting on their own two wheels for the first time. 

Adam Troy, a 4-year participant, Team Linden Peloton Captain and Pelotonia Kids Linden co-founder, captured the meaning behind the moment.

“The High Rollers’ gift is more than a donation — it’s a statement of faith in our community’s future.” 

The bike donation also reflects something central to the Pelotonia ethos: this purpose is about people coming together to make a difference in cancer research, in their neighborhoods, and in the lives of others. 

Through this gesture honoring their dedication and generosity, the 2025 High Rollers didn’t just provide bikes, they helped spark possibility and in doing so, passed forward the same spirit that fuels Pelotonia every year: community, hope, and the shared belief that together, we can achieve a world free from cancer.  

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

The next Pelotonia Kids Linden ride is scheduled for August 12, 2026. Register your young Rider for Pelotonia Kids today!

Some people find their calling in a single moment. For Ioana Baiu, MD, MPH, it was watching a heart restart in an operating room when she was 16 years old. That spark set her on a path to becoming a thoracic surgeon, though the road wasn’t always straight.

Early in her training, Dr. Baiu was steered away from surgery and told it was incompatible with having a family or a life. She pivoted to pediatrics until three women surgeons at Stanford showed her it was possible, and she found her way back. Today, she’s one of a small but growing number of female thoracic surgeons in the country, and the only one at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). Recruited in 2024 with the support of Pelotonia funding, she specializes in lung, esophageal and chest wall cancers. 

“If you want to do something, follow your heart and go for it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman or a man, or what your background is, just find and follow your path,” she says. “Once you’re doing what you love, you’ll wake up every day and feel the excitement.”

Her research focuses on improving patient outcomes, identifying risk factors through AI and expanding awareness of lung cancer screening, including the fact that the disease increasingly affects women and non-smokers alike. The impact is real: consider the case of a 36-year-old runner who was diagnosed early, underwent robotic lung surgery with Dr. Baiu and returned to running shortly after. 

Dr. Baiu made her Pelotonia debut as a Challenger in 2025 and plans to participate again in 2026. “I’ve heard so much about Pelotonia and am excited to take part in it,” she says. She’s no stranger to pushing limits. A competitive triathlete, she describes the sport as being much like surgery: it demands intense focus, mental toughness and the willingness to go beyond what you thought possible.

Read the full story on Health & Discovery.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

For surgeons treating head and neck cancers, precision is everything. Removing the entire tumor is critical, but so is preserving the delicate structures that allow patients to speak, chew and swallow. 

Researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) are advancing a new approach that helps surgeons do both: custom 3D-printed models created from each patient’s medical imaging. 

“This model is especially critical in cancers that have invaded bone, because tumor boundaries are often less visible or palpable. Our 3D models are built based on the patient’s actual tumor imaging, so it gives us a much better visual map at the patient’s bedside for removing the cancer as completely as possible while also sparing important structures and tissue to maintain function after surgery,” says Kyle VanKoevering, MD, an otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon) at the OSUCCC – James and medical director of the M4 Lab (Medical Modeling, Materials and Manufacturing Lab) within the Ohio State College of Engineering.

Using CT and MRI scans, Dr. VanKoevering and his team generate highly detailed, patient-specific models of the affected anatomy, including the tumor and surrounding bone. Surgeons can hold and study the model before and during surgery, gaining a clearer understanding of exactly where the cancer sits within complex structures like the jaw. 

This work is an example of how cancer engineering touches the OSUCCC – James mission, whether in basic science discovery or in outreach to communities. 

For tumors that invade bones, boundaries can be difficult to see or feel during surgery. Having a physical model allows surgeons to visualize the tumor’s location more clearly and plan their approach with greater confidence. 

The study was supported by Pelotonia funding and led by researchers including medical student Matthew Marquardt, a Pelotonia Scholar. The findings highlight how innovative technology — and the generosity of Pelotonia Riders and donors — can translate to better cancer care and improved quality of life for patients. 

“Long term, our hope is that this work will enable other surgeons to use this technology across the country to help improve people’s lives and improve cancer outcomes,”  said Matthew Marquardt, study corresponding author and third-year medical student.

Read the full story on the OSUCCC – James news page here.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

Jim and Beverly Loomis never chased fame or fortune. For 43 years, they built a quiet, loving life together in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts — Jim working in radio, Beverly in various jobs including a beloved stint as a server at Friendly’s Restaurant. Both believed deeply in education and lifelong learning, and while they never had children of their own, they poured that love into their niece and nephews, treating them as if they were their own. 

Their niece, Beth, married Ed Albertson, bringing him into the warmth of the Loomis family. In 2011, Ed began riding with Pelotonia, and Auntie Bev, as Beverly was affectionately known, became one of his most loyal supporters. Cancer had greatly affected their family; Beth died of stomach cancer in 2017, and Beth’s two brothers also died from cancer. These losses became a source of inspiration for Ed to continue participating in Pelotonia each year. Several years later, after reconnecting with a high school classmate, Ann, the two married. When Ann moved to Ohio to be with Ed, she was quickly introduced to Pelotonia and felt an immediate connection to its mission, shaped in part by her own experience of losing both of her parents to cancer.  

“Pelotonia is a part of us,” they agreed. “Every year, somebody we know personally gets cancer. It’s everywhere, and it’s awful.” 

When Auntie Bev passed away in August 2023, Ed — who had served as her Power of Attorney and Executor — and Ann saw an opportunity to honor her life. In her final weeks, Auntie Bev had shared a quiet sadness: she had no children and worried she would leave no legacy. Ed had made a silent promise to fix that. The answer, they agreed, was Pelotonia. After engaging Pelotonia for options on how they could create a meaningful memorial gift, Ed and Ann made a generous donation from Auntie Bev’s estate funding two Pelotonia Graduate Scholars at The Ohio State University in the names of Jim and Beverly Loomis. Their donation is covering tuition and fees, enabling the Scholars to focus fully on advancing cancer research without financial burdens.

“I can write a check to another organization, but I don’t know who gets that check, I don’t know what they do with that check, and it’s gone,” said Ann. “But we know through Pelotonia where our contribution has gone to. That’s the way it should be.” 

Ed, drawing on his army days, called Pelotonia a force multiplier. “One person can’t do as much as a number of people unified together. The idea that we could sponsor two young, brilliant researchers — wow! Maybe they’ll go out and have their own labs. Maybe they will cure cancer.“ 

Ed and Ann met the two Pelotonia Scholars who were the recipients of their gift in February 2025. For Ann, it was unforgettable. “I just kept looking at them and envisioning their future,” she said. “It was a warm feeling. We think of them often.” 

As for what Auntie Bev would think of this gift? Ed and Ann instantly agreed she’d say: “That’s just perfect.” 

Auntie Bev worried she and Jim would leave no legacy. She was wrong, and thanks to her loving family, their legacy is helping to end cancer.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

Cancer has long been thought of as a disease that primarily affects older adults. But that assumption is changing, and the numbers tell a different story. According to the National Cancer Institute, rates of colon, breast, uterine and kidney cancers are rising among people under age 50, with the sharpest increases among adults in their 20s. In Ohio alone, cancer rates for residents under 50 have climbed as much as 20% in recent years, even as rates for older adults have held steady or declined. 

This shift demands a new kind of response. And at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), that response has a name: BRIDGE. 

WHAT IS BRIDGE?

BRIDGE — Building Research Innovation and Care Delivery for Groups with Young Adult and Early-Onset Cancers — is a first-of-its-kind signature initiative of James CEO and OSUCCC Director W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, that is designed to serve patients between the ages of 18 and 50. It was developed and is co-led by surgeon-scientists Sara Myers, MD, PhD, and John Alexander, MD, who saw firsthand that younger cancer patients have needs that traditional care models simply weren’t designed to meet. 

Younger patients often face cancer while simultaneously raising children, building careers and managing financial obligations. They may carry underlying genetic risk factors that haven’t been identified. And their cancers can be more aggressive, requiring more personalized treatment strategies. 

“Unlike traditional programs that address clinical excellence, advocacy and research according to cancer type,” says Dr. Myers, “our initiative integrates these components into a single, cohesive framework to give our patients throughout their cancer journey — not just isolated treatment encounters. We are in the process of transforming this initiative into a cohesive program with efficient workflows that ensure systematic access to core supportive services like oncofertility and genetic testing while expanding offerings to include clinical trials, enhanced surveillance through predisposition clinics, wrap-around childcare and robust financial navigation.”

A NEW STANDARD OF COORDINATED CARE

At the heart of BRIDGE is coordination. Every OSUCCC – James patient between the ages of 18 and 50 will be offered critical services early in their treatment planning, not as an afterthought once treatment has been initiated. 

Those services include fertility counseling, universal genomic testing to identify genetic drivers, long-term survivorship support and community education about early screening and detection. Dedicated care coordinators will serve as central points of contact, connecting patients to the right resources at the right time and bridging communication between patients and their treatment teams. 

Dr. Myers says BRIDGE acts as an “umbrella,” bringing together existing OSUCCC – James support programs, including the Adolescent and Young Adult Program and JamesCare for Life, under one unified, proactive framework. 

FUELING RESEARCH TO FIND ANSWERS

Why are more young people developing cancer? That question remains one of oncology’s most urgent and unsolved challenges. BRIDGE takes it on directly through a competitive pilot research grant program, funded by Pelotonia and administered through the OSUCCC – James Intramural Research Program. 

These two-year grants will be awarded twice annually to cancer researchers at Ohio State or Nationwide Children’s Hospital, supporting high-risk, high-reward research into tumor biology, genetics, outcomes and care delivery for younger cancer patients. Up to three projects will be funded in the program’s first year. Applications were due in January 2026; the grants will begin in July 2026. 

Listen to the full story here on The James Cancer-Free World Podcast.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

“Many of these patients are navigating cancer while also building careers or raising young children. Cancer brings emotional, financial and physical stress,” says Dr. Rathmell. “BRIDGE will provide comprehensive services and support to streamline that journey, with the goal of improving outcomes.” 

A VISION FOR LASTING CHANGE

BRIDGE represents a $20 million, five-year commitment to building something that didn’t exist before: a comprehensive, research-driven home for younger adults facing cancer, including young parents and early-career professionals who never expected a cancer diagnosis at this stage of their lives. And it’s built not just to treat today’s patients, but to better understand and ultimately prevent the cancers of tomorrow. 

Listen to the full story here on The James Cancer-Free World Podcast.

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.

For nearly two decades, Gisela Chang has been a dedicated member of the Pelotonia community. An 18-year participant with the Cardinal Health Peloton, she has supported the mission in many ways — as a Rider, Volunteer, and Challenger. Even after moving to Ireland eight years ago for a work assignment that eventually became a permanent home, Gisela continues to champion Pelotonia’s mission from across an ocean as a Challenger. 

Her commitment is deeply personal. In 2004, Gisela’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. After surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, he enrolled in a clinical trial at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). The trial extended his life for more than a year — an outcome that gave Gisela’s family more precious time and memories together. 

Years later, when Gisela saw a billboard for Pelotonia, she knew she had found a meaningful way to give back to the community that had supported her family. That decision became even more significant when her cousin was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at just 28 years old. After receiving care at the OSUCCC – James, her cousin is now cancer-free. 

“I chose to be a part of the Legacy Society to guarantee my support for Pelotonia and The James lives on. My family was greatly supported by the men and women of The James through research and staff, and I want to make sure other families feel the same support and comfort we did.” 

After seeing two immediate family members benefit from both cancer care and support at the OSUCCC – James, Gisela chose to include Pelotonia in her estate plans so her giving wouldn’t end when she can no longer participate. Through her pledge to the Pelotonia Legacy Society, Gisela ensures a lasting impact, helping fund innovative research and giving other families the same hope and time that her father’s clinical trial once gave hers. 

This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the Pelotonia Insider, which can be found here.