Steve Newsome on Pelotonia Pride: Running Toward Hope

Steve Newsome came to Pelotonia the way many do: through a balance between the loss of many people he loved and the hope from seeing early detection save a loved one’s life.

All four of his grandparents died from cancer. He only ever met one of them, who passed from lung cancer when Steve was six years old. Then, about a decade ago, his dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“They caught it early, which saved his life — along with the cutting-edge treatment he received from The James at Ohio State,” Steve said. “Seeing the work of Pelotonia and the researchers at The James up close made me want to start volunteering and ultimately participating.”

Steve first joined Pelotonia as a Volunteer for Rider Check-In at Ride Weekend. Ringing a cowbell when a cancer Survivor came to the table was his favorite moment from that experience. Volunteering gave Steve a front-row seat to the scale of the event, and what struck him most was how many Riders keep coming back, year after year.

When the Trail Run/Hike was added to Gravel Day in 2025, Steve was in. Now he is getting ready for his second year as a Gravel Day Runner.

“If riding is not your style, come run with me!” he said. His advice for first-year participants is simple: relax and have fun. “We’re not doing this to win a medal. We’re here to make an impact, big or small, and make friends along the way.” 

To him, Pelotonia most importantly means community.

“Pelotonia is a great community and honestly it is fun. People are so creative in their fundraising and the events are well balanced between programming, activity, and inspiration,” Steve said.

“You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The party is one of the most fun in town and you will absolutely get out of it what you put in.”

As a gay man, Steve sees parallels between Pride and Pelotonia — and has intertwined these communities in a meaningful way in his life.

“I often feel like I bring Pelotonia to Pride more than Pride to Pelotonia,” he said.

“You see the Pelotonia arrow on someone’s car and it’s akin to the Human Rights Campaign equal sign for me. I know I can talk to that person and we’ll have a shared experience we can bond over.”

He wears his bib boards when he races and his Pelotonia Pride T-shirt everywhere, including to the parade.

“Pride is about visibility and acceptance. We bring so many walks of life together under a very big tent and collectively say: you’re safe here. We’re safe together. Pride to me lately is a chance to re-energize and fight back.”  

“Among LGBTQ+ people, healthcare is the most underserved category of life and that disproportionately affects black and brown people in our community, and even more so if they are trans,” Steve said.

“Outcomes improve when we talk about issues.”

He sees that openness as life-saving, too. His dad is alive because his cancer was caught early, so Steve talks about the importance of health screenings every chance he gets. “Knowing your status saves lives,” he said, “including your own.” 

Like so many in this Pelotonia community, Steve keeps coming back each year in the hope that one day no one will have to. Every parade, every race, every conversation is a chance to show up, be in community, and fight for hope.