Pedal the Cause participants getting ready for a group training ride.
SAN DIEGO–Pedal the Cause has a million reasons to celebrate as it announces $1 million raised for cancer research– doubling the amount raised from the events’ inaugural ride in 2013.
On September 20 and 21, more than 1,000 riders, volunteers, cancer survivors, doctors, families, and community leaders joined together to pave the way for a cure for cancer in the organizations’ second annual cycling challenge.
“This is a ride for a reason,” says Pedal the Cause Founder, Bill Koman. “We are building momentum to make this a top national event with a multi-million dollar annual raise for cancer research. Thanks to the support of the San Diego community, we are on the road to a cure.”
The funds raised by Pedal the Cause support a variety of “high-risk, high-reward” cancer research projects in a collaborative effort between San Diego’s three National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center beneficiaries: UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
“Pedal the Cause is an extraordinary and unique event that is positively influencing cancer research in San Diego,” said Scott Lippman, MD, director of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. “Thanks to the money raised in 2013 we are already doing ground-breaking research into the genetics and spread of cancer. I am excited to see what will come from the 2014 grants.”
According to the American Association of Cancer Research, federal funding of cancer research is down nearly $5 billion from 2010 levels, making local efforts like Pedal the Cause even more important to funding life-saving research.
“There are so many exciting and potentially revolutionary research projects here in San Diego that could one day save lives. Thanks to events like Pedal the Cause, we are able to fund some of the best ones, and fast track the research into real treatment options,” said Garth Powis, DPhil, director of the Sanford-Burnham cancer research center.
“San Diego is truly unique in terms of the people and technology we have here for cancer research, and the opportunities for partnering with other leading institutes to do some really incredible research. With Pedal the Cause offering the funding, and the Salk working together with Moores Cancer Center and Sanford-Burnham Cancer Center, we are on a path to a world without cancer,” said Tony Hunter, PhD, director of the Salk Institute Cancer Center.
Pedal the Cause San Diego is a community-wide cycling challenge with a mission to end cancer by raising money for life-saving cancer research at the three National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers. It is our hope that research funded by Pedal the Cause will ultimately lead to a cure for cancer.
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is home to nearly 350 medical and radiation oncologists, cancer surgeons, and researchers. It is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country
