Riding with a Purpose: Answer to Cancer Studio Cycling Event

When highly motivated individuals dedicated to creating a Future Immune to Cancer™ come together, amazing things happen. This was the case at the second annual Answer to Cancer Studio Cycling Event, hosted by the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Associate Board on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at SWERVE Fitness Flatiron. Thirty-six board members, friends and family of board members, and other friends of CRI cycled side by side with a common goal: raise funds for cancer immunotherapy research. Trent Kososki, chairman of the CRI Associate Board and principal at Energy Capital Partners, led the effort in organizing the event.

CRI Associate Board members and friends of CRI posed for a group photo before the ride.

Throughout the ride, camaraderie between teammates and friendly competition between teams added to the excitement of getting fit and giving back for a worthy cause. Participants were riding in memory of loved ones, to honor cancer patients and survivors, and to advance the research urgently needed to find a cure to all cancers.   

Participants were split into three teams: Team Red, Team Green, and Team Blue. Cyclists sweat through an intense 45-minute class, enduring sprints, hills, and upper body exercises designed for a full-body workout. Progress was tracked through a “SWERVE Score,” which was shown on scoreboards in the studio for teams to compare themselves against their competition. After a challenging ride, the results were in: Team Red finished with the highest SWERVE Score with a total of 527, with Team Green placing second with a score of 521, and Team Blue coming in close with a score of 516. For top individual SWERVE scores, Michael Brown of Team Blue scored 710, Josh Tinch of Team Green scored 707, and Trent Kososki of Team Red scored 669.

Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, CRI CEO and director of scientific affairs, thanked cyclists for their commitment to advancing cancer research. 

Through an impressive display of teamwork and community fundraising efforts, the team raised over $90,000, far exceeding the team’s goal of $50,000. Funds raised will be matched by CRI’s spring campaign for a total of over $180,000. For every minute cycled, an average of $4,000 went to cancer immunotherapy research! CRI would like to thank our Associate Board for fundraising and hosting the event. CRI would also like to give special recognition to the largest event fundraisers, Andrew and Matt Goldman, for bringing in over $38,000 in donations.

The Answer to Cancer Studio Cycling Event is one of many activities during our seventh annual Cancer Immunotherapy Month, helping raise awareness of cancer immunotherapy research. 

Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to doing good, individuals like CRI’s Associate Board members can make a difference in building a Future Immune to Cancer™. For information on joining the CRI Associate Board and participating in a studio cycling event, please contact Sharon Slade at [email protected].