On Cancer: Cycle for Survival Raises Record Funds for Rare Cancer Research

Nearly 12,000 people joined the battle against rare cancers by participating in this year’s Cycle for Survival, the national indoor team cycling event that raises money for research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. The 2013 event, held on five dates in February and March, was the largest and most successful so far, raising a record amount.

Cycle for Survival 2013 took place in ten cities, with participants riding at Equinox clubs in Boston; Chicago; Greenwich, Connecticut; Long Island; Los Angeles; Miami; Summit, New Jersey; New York City; San Francisco; and Washington, DC. Equinox is Cycle for Survival’s founding partner.

An “Indispensible” Source of Research Funding

“During its first seven years, Cycle for Survival has grown to become an indispensable source of funding for research into rare cancers,” says Memorial Sloan-Kettering President Craig B. Thompson. “We are grateful to the thousands of volunteers who have taken part in events around the country, generating critical support and giving new hope to all those whose lives have been touched by the work that support makes possible.”

Dr. Thompson rode as a member of “Team HOPP,” along with several physician-scientists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program. In all, more than 600 Memorial Sloan-Kettering employees cycled this year. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg also made an appearance at the New York City ride to show his support and offer his congratulations to the riders.

One of the World’s Fastest-Growing Fund-Raisers

Cycle for Survival was founded by the late Jennifer Goodman Linn and her husband, David Linn, in 2007, two years after Jennifer was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare cancer. It became an official Memorial Sloan-Kettering event in 2009.

Cycle for Survival has become one of the world’s fastest-growing athletic fund-raising efforts. As of today, the 2013 event has already raised more than $14 million — up from $8.3 million for the 2012 event. Since its inception, Cycle for Survival has raised more than $31 million.

Although more than half of people diagnosed with cancer have a rare form of the disease, research into many rare cancers is underfunded, leaving patients with limited treatment options.

Within six months of each Cycle event, every dollar raised is allocated to Memorial Sloan-Kettering research, so patients can quickly see the benefits of donations in the form of new clinical trials and investigational treatments.