The second Pedal the Cause fundraiser two months ago in San Diego raised $1 million for cancer research, organizers announced Monday.
Funds collected from the Sept. 20-21 ride, which drew around 1,000 participants, will go toward research at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
The take is more than twice as much as from the inaugural event last year.
“We are building momentum to make this a top national event with a multimillion-dollar annual raise for cancer research,” said Bill Koman, the event’s founder. “Thanks to the support of the San Diego community, we are on the road to a cure.”
Pedal the Cause offered one-day rides of between 10 and 50 miles, and a 150-mile two-day ride.
Koman, a cancer survivor, also runs a Pedal the Cause event in St. Louis.
“There are so many exciting and potentially revolutionary research projects here in San Diego that could one day save lives,” said Garth Powis, director of the Sanford-Burnham cancer research center. “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.”
Next year’s San Diego Pedal the Cause rides are scheduled for Sept. 18-20.
— City News Service
