The 2024 Impact Report is now available!

The drive for Matthew Old, MD, to be involved in philanthropy to accelerate innovative cancer research, like many of his colleagues, is highly personal.

Dr. Old has ridden in every mile of every Pelotonia event — 2,850 total miles to be exact.

His participation started with the first Ride Weekend in 2009 and has continued as a Rider each year since, adding the Gravel Day rides in 2023 and 2024.

Dr. Old is a professor and director of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

A 16-Year Rider and Peloton team captain, his contributions to cancer research extend beyond his lab and scientific achievements to include his long-time participation in and fundraising for Pelotonia.

Dr. Old leads Team Head and Neck, a peloton team within the super peloton, Team Buckeye, with wife and co-captain Molly Old. In its 13th year, 8 this peloton team includes providers, family members, friends, and cancer Survivors. Team Head and Neck has raised over $1.5 million. Through his individual fundraising efforts, Dr. Old has raised more than $65,500 in all-time funds for Pelotonia.

Dr. Old started his work at Ohio State in 2009, the same year that the first Pelotonia ride began. His personal motivation for participating as a Pelotonia Rider year after year stems from his deep connection to the shared mission of Pelotonia and the OSUCCC – James to create a cancer-free world.

Head and neck cancer rates continue to increase due to the rising human papilloma virus (HPV) epidemic.

“Philanthropy will help fund research and advances to stay ahead of the curve and get to more effective therapies quicker. These innovations wouldn’t be possible without the support of our [Pelotonia] community,” Dr. Old says.

His research focuses on improving surgical outcomes and developing innovative therapies for head and neck cancers, particularly through minimally invasive techniques and targeted therapies. As a highly respected figure in oncology, Dr. Old has authored numerous publications and received several awards for his work in advancing cancer care and research.

“We have one of the largest databases of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the world and are well-positioned to do research on this cancer,” Dr. Old says. “I’ve been proud to further these research efforts through the generosity of the Pelotonia community, including funds raised from a lemonade stand and bake sale hosted by Santino Carnevale, who lost his father to head and neck cancer. Santino alone has raised more than $135,000 to enable this breakthrough research.”

Through his leadership and dedication as a cancer care advocate and researcher – as well as a passionate Pelotonia Rider — Dr. Old continues to inspire others to support Pelotonia and drive advancements in head and neck cancer research, making an impact on patients’ lives and on the broader community.

It’s been five years since the launch of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO), a pioneering research center at the OSUCCC – James. 

Established in July 2019 with a pledge of $102,265,000 over five years from Pelotonia, the PIIO was founded with a bold vision: to harness the power of the immune system to to fight cancer at all levels — from prevention to treatment and survivorship.  

Led by Founding Director Zihai Li, MD, PhD, a renowned medical oncologist and immunologist in the ever-expanding field of cancer immunotherapy, the overall ambition of the PIIO is to be a leader in driving immuno-oncology (IO) breakthroughs. 

Since its founding, the PIIO has achieved several key milestones. PIIO researchers have developed novel therapies that boost immune responses to various types of cancer, from melanoma to lung and blood cancers. The institute has also led clinical trials that offer patients new, personalized immunotherapy options, improving outcomes and giving hope to those battling the disease. 

“Together, we are making a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families,” says Dr. Li, crediting the PIIO’s success to the collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and the community.  

In 2023, the PIIO expanded to the new state-of-the-art Pelotonia Research Center on The Ohio State University’s new innovation district on campus – a major step in promoting collaborative science and innovation. The labs at the Pelotonia Research Center cover a wide range of specialties, including cancer immunotherapy and computational immunobiology. 

As the PIIO celebrates its fifth anniversary, the focus remains on the future with a renewed sense of optimism and hope. With ongoing support from the Pelotonia community, the PIIO will continue to push the limits of cancer research to further advance targeted treatments and immuno-oncology for patients today and for years to come.  

In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lifileucel as a new cancer treatment that uses a person’s own immune cells for treating the most dangerous types of skin cancer. This tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy is the first cell therapy approved by the FDA to treat skin cancer, or melanoma.  

Clinical trials at the OSUCCC – James have shown that this cell therapy is also a promising treatment for patients with advanced stages of lung cancer who have developed resistance to other therapies.   

“Most of these patients, particularly those with stage 4 or metastatic cancer, will eventually develop resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors,” says OSUCCC – James thoracic oncologist and study lead author, Kai He, MD, PhD, who leads cell therapy in solid tumor in the Cell Therapy Program and Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology.

“In such situations, the treatment options are limited, and there is a critical need for developing novel immunotherapy treatments to prolong people’s survival and maintain their quality of life. Lifileucel is a step in that direction.” 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, accounting for one in five cancer deaths. The second most common cancer in both men and women, it is estimated that nearly 240,000 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2024 in the U.S.  

The current study is the first global phase 2 clinical trial to use this therapy against lung cancer, with patients in many hospitals across the U.S. and Europe.  

“The results so far are very encouraging and promising,” says Dr. He, adding that the team is conducting the additional clinical trial with larger population of patients to validate the finding. If successful, it will provide evidence for potential FDA approval for using lifileucel to treat non-small cell lung cancer.  

In July, Pelotonia announced a $2 million donation from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and The Haslam 3 Foundation to accelerate scientific research on CLL, supporting Pelotonia’s mission.  

Dee and Jimmy Haslam are managing partners of Haslam Sports Group, a sports and entertainment group with ownership of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, operating rights to Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, co-ownership of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, and investors in the WNBA. The Haslam 3 Foundation is the family’s philanthropic foundation which gives back to community organizations in Ohio and Tennessee.   

“Pelotonia offers hope for so many people impacted by cancer, including my own family,” said Dee Haslam. “Everyone is affected by cancer. My hope is more and more people get involved in Pelotonia – whether they ride on their bikes or make donations. I get excited thinking about all of the ways you can participate. I hope our gift inspires others to support Pelotonia as well.”

The donation will also provide operational support for Pelotonia, adding The Haslam 3 Foundation as a funding partner. Funding partners ensure Pelotonia directs 100 percent of every participant-raised dollar to innovative cancer research.  

“As I’ve spent time with Dee and Jimmy over the past few years, they were eager to understand how Pelotonia was making such a big impact not only on research but engaging in the community in meaningful ways. They wanted to be a part of it,” said Doug Ulman, Vice Chair of the Pelotonia Board and cancer survivor. “I’ve been honored to get to know them as people. We are thankful to have the Haslams as part of the Pelotonia community and for their investment in furthering our mission.”  

Investment for CLL Patients Today and Tomorrow

CLL is a cancer that affects the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. It is the most common form of adult leukemia in the Western Hemisphere, accounting for about one-quarter of new leukemia cases in the U.S.  

The OSUCCC – James is a global leader in research and treatment for hematologic cancers, including CLL.   

Jennifer Woyach, MD, a hematologist-oncologist at the OSUCCC – James, professor in the Division of Hematology, and co-leader of the Leukemia and Hematologic Malignancies Research Program, will lead the work. Woyach is a Pelotonia-funded researcher through both an Idea Grant and Fellow, and was named Pelotonia’s 2021 Researcher of the Year for her work in CLL research and patient care.  

“This funding will help us launch clinical trials for frontline CLL to try to optimize therapy for all patients. As well, we are expanding our research program in immunotherapy for CLL, and this funding will greatly accelerate this work,” said Woyach.  

Future of CLL Treatment through Research

The future of CLL treatment is in creating more novel therapies that are better targeted to a patient’s individual cancer.    

Under Dr. Woyach’s leadership, the OSUCCC – James is positioned to continue making significant advancements in CLL research by exploring areas that include overcoming patient resistance to therapies, working with companies to test new therapies preclinically, performing lab work to identify novel targets, and studying new immune therapies.  

This critical research is accelerated through Pelotonia funding and donations like this from The Haslam 3 Foundation.  

“The beautiful thing about Pelotonia is that the community can participate in ways most meaningful to them. Not only is CLL deeply personal to the Haslam family but it is a very promising area of cancer research in which the OSUCCC – James is a global leader,” said Ulman. “We could not be more grateful for the incredible support of Dee, Jimmy, and The Haslam 3 Foundation. This donation is going to change and save lives.”  

Investment will fuel Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) research at the OSUCCC—James

“I love Pelotonia’s mission and it is an honor to be able to positively impact their efforts,” said Dee Haslam. “We have all been touched by cancer and that is why awareness and research is so important. The way that Pelotonia brings the entire community together for such a critical cause has been tremendous and we are inspired by their transformative work.”

“Pelotonia offers hope for so many people impacted by cancer, including my own family,” said Haslam. “Everyone is affected by cancer. My hope is more and more people get involved in Pelotonia – whether they ride on their bikes or make donations. I get excited thinking about all of the ways you can participate. I hope our gift inspires others to support Pelotonia as well.”

“As I’ve spent time with Dee and Jimmy over the last few years, they were eager to understand how Pelotonia was making such a big impact not only on research but in engaging the community in such meaningful ways. They wanted to be a part of it,” said Doug Ulman, Vice Chair of the Pelotonia Board and cancer survivor.

“I’ve been honored to get to know them as people. It’s clear they are big thinkers and have a vision for the difference they want to make. The collective Columbus community is grateful for their impact on our city and beyond. We are thankful to have the Haslams as part of the Pelotonia community and for their investment in furthering our mission of ending cancer.”

Investment for CLL Patients Today and the Future

“I have a family member with CLL who is very symptomatic and know others who are fighting through this disease, so my hope is that our investment through Pelotonia helps the research for CLL treatment go quicker,” said Haslam.

“I learned that Pelotonia-funded research at the OSUCCC—James is working to find new and novel therapies for CLL. Doug and Pelotonia made the introduction for us to Dr. Woyach and Ohio State. It was remarkable to learn about the CLL expertise and breakthroughs in treatments right in our backyard in Columbus. Getting to know Dr. Woyach is such a gift. CLL is her passion; it’s what drives her. If you’re going to invest in research for something that you really care about, you want it to be done by someone with the background and qualifications that she has.”

“At the OSUCCC—James, we are very excited to use this investment both to strengthen our current work in advancing CLL research and to allow us to go into new directions to benefit CLL patients,” said Woyach. “There has been remarkable progress in CLL over the past decade, but there remain areas of unmet clinical need. This funding will help us launch clinical trials for frontline CLL to try to optimize therapy for all patients. As well, we are expanding our research program in immunotherapy for CLL, and this funding will greatly accelerate this work.”

Advancements in CLL Treatment with Pelotonia Funding

“Pelotonia has been instrumental in the transformation of CLL treatment. The philanthropy that fuels Pelotonia allows us to do novel work that otherwise wouldn’t be funded,” said Woyach. “Pelotonia enables research with higher risk but higher reward. In this case, the risk really paid off and we have the reward of great therapies for patients at The James and around the world.”

“As a cancer surgeon and CLL survivor, I am humbled by this donation from the Haslam 3 Foundation to Pelotonia that will help discover the next frontiers in CLL treatment,” said Pollock. “I am deeply grateful to the Haslam family and The Haslam 3 Foundation for their investment in this critical science. Philanthropic donations power cancer research and lead to breakthroughs like the CLL treatment that saved my life.”

Future of CLL Treatment through Research

“The beautiful thing about Pelotonia is that the community can participate in ways most meaningful to them. Not only is CLL deeply personal to the Haslam family but it is a very promising area of cancer research in which the OSUCCC—James is a global leader,” said Ulman. “We could not be more grateful for the incredible support of Dee, Jimmy and the Haslam 3 Foundation. This donation is going to change and save lives.”

Watch the video announcement on the Pelotonia YouTube channel!

Series of Youth Cycling Events will Engage Next Generation of Pelotonia Participants

“Children in the Pelotonia community are among our most enthusiastic spectators and fundraisers, and the launch of Pelotonia Kids gives them the opportunity to be more actively engaged participants,” said Joe Apgar, Pelotonia CEO and cancer survivor.

“Pelotonia Kids is a collaboration with two of the most renowned hospitals and research centers in the U.S. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside both the OSUCCC – James and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who are leading the way in scientific research and care to save and extend the lives of cancer patients, including children.”

“The OSUCCC—James is proud to collaborate with Pelotonia to launch youth cycling experiences for a meaningful impact on creating a cancer-free world,” said Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD, director of OSUCCC and cancer survivor. “Breakthroughs in science happen faster when there is a shared goal and collaboration. Pelotonia Kids leverages the long-standing relationship between the OSUCCC—James and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to accelerate research on innovative and alternative treatments for childhood cancer patients and survivors.”

“Not only will this collaboration with the OSUCCC—James and Pelotonia create a fun, new program, it will make a real difference in the lives of children,” said Tim Robinson, Nationwide Children’s Hospital CEO. “Pelotonia Kids will help accelerate Nationwide Children’s groundbreaking research, making an impact on patients in central Ohio and around the world.”

“The many community members who have supported the original kids rides within the Pelotonia community used creativity and intention to engage youth in fundraising. Their efforts laid the foundation for this new Pelotonia Kids platform, inspiring our youngest advocates to take action in advancing our mission of ending cancer,” said Apgar.

“We look forward to seeing others embrace this experience as new hosts step up to organize kids rides and bring the grassroots Pelotonia experience to children across various communities.”

• June 15: Pedal for Pancakes, Capital University in Bexley (hosted by Team Bexley)
• July 6: Pelotonia Kids UA, Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington (hosted Sarah Jane and Paul Germain)
• July 27: SpokesKIDS Jr., Wildwood Park in Granville (hosted by Team Granville Spokesmen for a Cure peloton members)
• July 27: SpokesKIDS, Newark to Granville (hosted by Team Granville Spokesmen for a Cure peloton members)
• TBA: Building Brighter Futures, Plain City (hosted by M/I Homes, Inc.)