“My father rode in Pelotonia my entire life. Watching him ride inspired me to try to start a ride so that kids my age could ride too,” Nathaniel said.

“We’ve always tried to make a kids’ version of Pelotonia. We have a 1-mile route for our youngest riders and a 3-mile ride for our older kids,” Nathaniel said.

“Both routes have rest stops along the way, and we have a finish line celebration to try to make it as much like Pelotonia as we can for the kids.”

Last year, the ride took on extra meaning when a young girl who had beaten cancer rode alongside her parents.

“I got the opportunity to talk with them after the ride,” Nathaniel said. “It was a really inspiring experience.”

“Pelotonia Kids is an incredible part of Pelotonia,” Nathaniel added, “and we are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this event and help save lives through important pediatric cancer research. I hope that we can raise as much money for pediatric cancer research as possible and give the kids that participate in the ride an amazing experience.”

“Without Pelotonia, there are no researchers; there are no breakthroughs,” Amanda said.

For Amanda and Joe, Pelotonia is more than an annual event; it’s a mission and a community united to end cancer. By joining the Pelotonia Legacy Society, the Panfils are helping to secure the future of groundbreaking research, ensuring that progress continues for generations to come. Their philanthropy stands as a testament to the power of hope, science, and community action.

For more information on the Pelotonia Legacy Society, please visit our Planned Giving page.

As a proud Linden resident, Adam Troy is committed to uplifting his community. Adam serves as the Executive Director of the Community of Caring Development Foundation, a nonprofit that invests in the Linden area of Columbus by providing affordable housing, meals, community grants, and academic scholarships. 

Adam has used his influence to strengthen the Pelotonia community as well. In addition to being a three-time Rider and Peloton Captain of Team LINDEN and advocate for the Wheels of Color Peloton, Adam is also a cancer Survivor, making Pelotonia’s mission of ending cancer deeply personal. He urges his Linden community to join him in raising funds for innovative cancer research at the OSUCCC – James.  

“Now more than ever the need for cancer research funding is vital,” Adam said, referencing an American Cancer Society journal on cancer statistics. “Black and African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.” 

“It’s up to us as a community to continue to fund ground-breaking research in order to not slow progress toward our One Goal.” 

In just three years, Team LINDEN has raised an impressive total of nearly $50,000 for Pelotonia. 

Beyond his involvement with the Team LINDEN peloton, Adam also played a vital role in launching Pelotonia Kids Linden in 2024.  The neighborhood youth event aimed to promote children’s health and safety through cycling. It also encourages kids to focus on fitness while also fostering community as they came together to raise funds for innovative pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and build a brighter future for Columbus youth. Adam brought together additional partners – including philanthropist Renee and Dwight Smith, founders of the Thanks Be to God Foundation, Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), New Salem Baptist Church, We Are Linden, the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods and Public Safety, Saint Stephen’s Community House, and Columbus City Councilmember Emmanuel Remy – to make the Pelotonia Kids Linden event more impactful. Held in collaboration with the City of Columbus’ Public Safety Week, the inaugural event also featured food trucks, resource tables, and a children’s bike giveaway. 

“Events like this give us hope for a brighter tomorrow, laying the groundwork not only for philanthropy in our youth, but also to inspire them to be future community organizers. It’s teaching them the value of service above self,” Adam said.   

The next Pelotonia Kids Linden ride is Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Maloney Park in Linden. Scheduled in concert with We Are Linden’s 10th Annual Back to School Block Party and planned in collaboration with last year’s partners, this year’s event will include many of the same fun activities, giveaways, and more. Riders and volunteers are welcomed.  

“We realized that many of us know kiddos who love riding their bikes, and so we thought, ‘why not get them involved in the community and fundraising with their own Pelotonia experience?’ We are so excited to expand our efforts with Gears & Cheers this year,” Emily said.   

“Pelotonia Kids is such a great way to get foster kiddos interest in helping and giving back by getting them involved early and making their own impact by riding their bike,” she said. “It’s a fun way to teach them about the power of giving back and helping their community.”

June is National Cancer Survivors Month — a time to celebrate those who’ve battled cancer, uplift those still fighting, and remember the loved ones we’ve lost. For the Pelotonia community, it’s a meaningful opportunity to connect personal stories to action by turning inspiration into impact.

Use National Cancer Survivors Month to Power Your Fundraising

• Honor Milestone Dates

• Make a Dedication List

• Use Time as Motivation

• Create a Survivors Month Challenge

“Children who participate in Pelotonia Kids events like Pedal for Pancakes are giving back to their peers,” Susanne said. “While having tons of fun along the way, they are learning that their personal actions can have a profoundly positive impact.”

“Stroll for Life – Pelotonia Kids Ride was born out of the collective efforts of local Stroll communities, united by a shared commitment to inspire and empower children and families to engage in an active, healthy lifestyle while supporting the fight against cancer,” Kathy said.

“Our hope is to have 100 kids for our first ride and bring awareness to all the rides that are happening this summer,” Kathy said.

“Team Huntington Bank has been part of the Pelotonia movement since day one. We’ve grown together and have raised millions of dollars for innovative cancer research,”Christopher said.

“To expand our reach, we wanted to be able to engage the next generation of Pelotonia riders and we couldn’t think of a better way to start.”

“We would love to continue to grow. As this is our first event, we will learn so much from it. We want to continue to bring this back, year after year and further our reach to help others all while funding critical cancer research,” Christopher said.

“I am a teacher for the Hamilton Local School District. It was weighing on my heart to bring this opportunity to the kids on the South End of Columbus,” Brittany said.

“Pelotonia Kids Rangers is more than just a bike ride — it’s a movement that empowers children to make a real difference,” Brittany said.

“In partnership with Pelotonia Kids, this event gives young riders the chance to take action, showing them that even at a young age, they can create change. Every pedal stroke supports kids battling cancer, and with 100% of contributions going directly to pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, this ride brings hope, support, and a brighter future to those who need it most.”