2016 Great Cycle Challenge USA Raises More Than $3 Million To Fight Kids' Cancer

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Children's Cancer Research Fund

Jul 07, 2016, 01:15 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Cancer Research Fund, (CCRF) a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancer, concluded the 2016 Great Cycle Challenge USA presented by Macy's (GCC-USA) by raising $3 million to fight childhood cancer.

Throughout the month of June, more than 26,000 cyclists across all 50 states of all fitness levels and ages pedaled 1,946,846 miles for the GCC-USA. Participants set personal fundraising and mileage goals and tracked their progress via the Great Cycle Challenge USA mobile app. 

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David Largaespada, PhD, cancer researcher at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota and a Great Cycle Challenge (GCC) rider; Danny Valerius, 11-year-old leukemia patient; Alison Costello, GCC rider; and Jim Leighton, VP of Events and Partnerships, Children's Cancer Research Fund celebrate the GCC reaching the $3 million mark (PHOTO CREDIT: CCRF)
David Largaespada, PhD, cancer researcher at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota and a Great Cycle Challenge (GCC) rider; Danny Valerius, 11-year-old leukemia patient; Alison Costello, GCC rider; and Jim Leighton, VP of Events and Partnerships, Children's Cancer Research Fund celebrate the GCC reaching the $3 million mark (PHOTO CREDIT: CCRF)

More than 50,000 individuals across the country, as well as corporate partners Macy's and Thrivent Mutual Funds, donated.  Additionally, an anonymous donor matched the $250,000 in private donations raised on June 15 – "Kick Cancer's Butt Day".

Riders participated as individuals or on a team.  The top fund-raising team, Team Tarlow – a 34-member cycling club in NY - rode 12,014 miles and raised $24,769.26.  The top individual fundraisers were Dr. Arden Virnig (Onamia, MN, 984 miles/$18,116.50); Matt Farber (Berkeley, CA, 1,006 miles/$16,404.31); Joel Falter (Culver City, CA 632 miles/$13,476).

"The passion of the riders and generosity of the donors is helping us revolutionize childhood cancer treatments worldwide, bringing breakthroughs from the lab to the bedside quickly," says John Hallberg, Chief Executive Officer of CCRF. "With more than $4.7 million dollars raised by GCC in the past two years, we are able to fund even more promising new research and clinical trials with the best and brightest minds in pediatric cancer."

CCRF is a prominent supporter of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, which is internationally recognized as one of the world's top childhood cancer research institutions. Additionally, through a partnership with Momcology, eight (8) grants of $20,000 each will be awarded to Children's Oncology Group hospitals around the country. 

Great Cycle Challenge USA encourages riders across the United States to challenge themselves and set their own personal riding goal throughout June to fight kids' cancer. Even though GCC-USA ended on June 30, people can still donate through mid-July at GreatCycleChallenge.com.

Children's Cancer Research Fund invests in lifesaving, leading-edge research in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of childhood cancers and blood-related disorders.  Since 1981, CCRF donors have helped fund research that has revolutionized the way childhood cancer is treated worldwide. For more information visit ChildrensCancer.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160707/387152  

SOURCE Children's Cancer Research Fund