COLUMBUS, OH (December 15, 2020) – Pelotonia has announced the impact of its 2020 My Pelotonia initiative, bringing Pelotonia’s total dollars for cancer research raised to date to more than $217 million with $10,502,362 raised this year. The Pelotonia community was fueled by 11,274 participants from 47 states and 7 countries in 2020 despite unprecedented global circumstances and personal challenges. These Legendary participants logged more than 822,000 miles riding, running, hiking and more along with 4,715 volunteer hours as part of their efforts.

Dollars raised this year allowed Pelotonia to pledge $1 million to support research for COVID-19’s effect on the cancer community, as well as stand alongside the American Cancer Society and Pfizer to help fund Turning the Page on Breast Cancer at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). Turning the Page on Breast Cancer is a new initiative built to address the high breast cancer death rate disparities among African American women in Ohio. The program will provide breast cancer risk assessment and facilitate adherence to appropriate screening based on personal risk. This includes facilitating access to follow-up care such as genetic counseling and recommended testing for African American women who are at greater risk for breast cancer.

“COVID-19 threatened to severely hamper innovative medical research as well as the funding that drives those scientific advancements, and our Legendary community came together like never before to ensure that wasn’t the case,” said Doug Ulman, Pelotonia President and CEO. “The countless programs, trials and advancements achieved in collaboration with the OSUCCC – James and the broader Ohio State University research enterprise this year alone is proof of those cumulative efforts. I truly think we’ll look back on this year and see it as a turning point for global scientific collaboration and cancer research.”

As in previous years, 100 percent of every dollar raised by participants goes to the OSUCCC –James, including the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO). Those dollars have supported 567 fellowships along with 170 cancer research grants that fund teams of faculty researchers collecting data to work toward the collective goal of overcoming cancer. Twenty clinical trials were launched within the first year of the PIIO, and dollars raised this year helped the Institute make plans for an additional 130 clinical trials over the next five years.

“The research dollars raised through the Pelotonia community and all the Legends that biked, ran, walked or did something else meaningful and personal to them this year are saving lives,” said Hal Paz, MD, Executive Vice President and Chancellor for Health Affairs The Ohio State University and CEO of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “We are enormously grateful for the extraordinary commitment to keep the momentum going during this unprecedented year, and I am truly inspired by the community’s incredible spirit, determination and continued support of the Pelotonia mission and the OSUCCC – James.”

Innovative research initiatives funded by Pelotonia are made possible in part by major funding partners. Pelotonia recently announced the continuation of its major funding partner relationship with the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation for 2021 through 2025.

“2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, as the scientific community has shifted to fight a global pandemic still raging. Now more than ever, the funds raised by our steadfast Pelotonia community are critically important to ensure momentum continues in cancer research. Cancer doesn’t stop developing – even in a pandemic – so we must keep driving promising new ideas forward to help patients confronted with this disease,” said Raphael Pollock, MD, PhD, director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and a surgical oncologist with The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Registration for Pelotonia 2021 will open February 18, 2021. For more information on Pelotonia, please visit pelotonia.org. To read more about the impact of Pelotonia dollars, please visit pelotonia.org/impact and pelotonia.org/institute.

Founded in 2008, Pelotonia was established with the objective to fund innovative cancer research. As a centerpiece of its year-round fundraising efforts, Pelotonia hosts a three-day experience that includes a weekend of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. Since its founding, Pelotonia has raised over $217 million for cancer research. Thanks to its generous funding partners – American Electric Power Foundation, Huntington Bank, L Brands Foundation, Peggy and Richard Santulli, Harold C. Schott Foundation, Cardinal Health, Diamond Hill Capital Management and Nationwide – Pelotonia is able to direct 100 percent of every dollar raised by its participants to cancer research at the OSUCCC-James, including the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology. For more information, visit pelotonia.org or tune in to our podcast ONE GOAL.