NEW YORK — Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers, made history today by crossing the $200 million threshold for funds raised since it was founded in 2007. These donations have come from more than 765,000 individuals representing all 50 states — a robust community dedicated to fighting rare cancers.
This fundraising milestone reflects Cycle for Survival’s growth over 13 years, quadrupling the money raised since 2012 and maximizing the impact of the peer-to-peer fundraising model. 100 percent of every dollar raised fuels groundbreaking rare cancer research and clinical trials led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival.
Equinox, Cycle for Survival’s founding partner and host, has been critical to this fundraising success and growth since the beginning. In celebration of hitting the $200 million mark, Equinox presented a $400,000 fundraising match in the days leading up to that milestone.
“As Cycle for Survival’s founding partner, Equinox is extremely proud of the commitment, determination and success of this movement,” said Scott Rosen, President of Equinox. “This community’s energy and passion is an inspiration. Surpassing $200 million raised is a testament to each and every one of the riders, donors and supporters who, like Equinox, will never give up in the fight to beat rare cancers.”
On social media, ambassadors from TAG Heuer, the official Timepiece and Timekeeper of Cycle for Survival, showed their support. Alexander Rossi (professional racing driver) and Tim Howard (goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids) posted a countdown to the milestone.
In honor of this milestone, and to celebrate the 10th year of Cycle for Survival events in Chicago, Willis Tower will light its iconic antennas orange from February 7 – 10. Today, Cycle for Survival will have the special privilege of ringing the historic NYSE Opening Bell.
Starting as a single indoor cycling ride in New York City with just 230 people on 50 bikes, Cycle for Survival now has about 36,000 participants on 8,000 bikes and 245,000 donors annually. Participating teams include nearly 1,000 companies that rally colleagues to ride together. Cycle for Survival’s signature stationary cycling events, led by instructors from Equinox, take place in 16 cities across the country this January, February and March.
The $200 million raised by the Cycle for Survival community has allowed hundreds of MSK physicians, scientists and research teams to pursue bold ideas to change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated. Their investigations have made a direct impact on patient care, including the FDA approval of two new drugs. All of the money raised is allocated within the six months following the close of fundraising annually. The funds go directly to research and clinical trials for rare cancers, which affect about half of all cancer patients and include thyroid, brain, ovarian, pancreatic, all pediatric cancers and many others. Visit www.CycleforSurvival.org to learn more.
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About Cycle for Survival
Join the Battle. Cycle for Survival is the movement to beat rare cancers. Since 2007, Cycle for Survival has raised $200million through its signature indoor team cycling events across the United States to help fund pioneering rare cancer research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which owns and operates Cycle for Survival. 100 percent of every donation funds rare cancer research. About half of all cancer patients are fighting a rare cancer, and they often face limited or no treatment options. Together with the movement’s founding partner, Equinox, Cycle for Survival has supported innovative clinical trials, research studies and major scientific initiatives. For a list of events, research updates and additional information, visit https://www.cycleforsurvival.org and follow Cycle for Survival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) — the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center — has devoted more than 130 years to exceptional patient care, innovative research, and outstanding educational programs. Today, it is one of 70 National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, with state-of-the-art science flourishing side by side with clinical studies and treatment. The close collaboration between MSK’s physicians and scientists is one of its unique strengths, enabling it to provide patients with the best care available as researchers work to discover more effective strategies to prevent, control and cure cancer. MSK’s education programs train future physicians and scientists, and the knowledge and experience they gain has an impact on cancer treatment and biomedical research around the world.
About Equinox
IT’S NOT FITNESS. IT’S LIFE: Founded in 1991, Equinox was built on the notion that fitness can empower a life well-lived and foster a strong community of high performance individuals. Nearly 30 years later, Equinox continues to lead and disrupt the category it singularly defined, operating 95 full-service clubs globally across major US cities including New York, LA, Miami and San Francisco as well as London, Toronto and Vancouver, each featuring bespoke design in an unparalleled luxury environment. Grounded in the core tenets of Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration and backed by a Health Advisory Board of industry-leading experts across these disciplines, the company offers a holistic approach to fitness, inclusive of Equinox signature group fitness classes, personal training, Pilates, spa services, apparel, experiential travel and food & beverage. In 2019, Equinox will unveil Equinox Hotels as a true culmination of its lifestyle brand promise, redefining the luxury hospitality experience to be a seamless extension of high-performance living. For more information, visit www.equinox.com.
SOURCE Cycle for Survival
