The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a top-rated cancer research charity, announces the inaugural Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, held on Saturday, May 19 at NC State University’s Centennial Campus, raised more than $200,000 through a dedicated group of riders to help achieve Victory Over Cancer®. The V Foundation is proud to host an event in the Triangle, with rider-raised funds supporting North Carolina’s world-class cancer research institutions, as well as breakthrough cancer research nationwide.
“We are delighted that this first-year event was such a success,” said Susan Braun, CEO of the V Foundation. “Teaming up with the three excellent NCI-designated cancer centers in North Carolina has been an outstanding way to get the public engaged in helping all of us create Victory Over Cancer®!”
The inaugural event had nearly 500 registered riders and volunteers. The routes took riders through central North Carolina neighborhoods with distances of 30, 60, or 100 miles, as well as a one-mile family-fun ride. The post-event festival featured a beer garden sponsored by Corona Premier and local food trucks, including Gonza Tacos and Napoli Pizza. Prior to the ride, attendees heard from cancer center directors of the Victory Ride’s three mission partners – Duke Cancer Institute, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Wake Forest Baptist Health Comprehensive Cancer Center – to learn about the great work happening right here in the area and how the funds raised will make a difference to their programs.
Dr. Michael Kastan was recognized as the top fundraising individual, collecting more than $5,500 in donations to support cancer research. The top fundraising team was Duke Cancer Institute. Their riders raised nearly $20,000. Fundraising continues until June 19, 2018.
“We are riding in honor of the many family members and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer and who have won that battle,” said Joe Turner, a member of Team Turner. “These successes are possible because of the great work that the doctors, scientists and researchers are doing to keep up the fight. A tremendous amount of progress has been made over time, and as Jim Valvano reminded us, we can never give up until we win the fight outright.”
The V Foundation would like to thank its partners for helping to put on this inaugural ride, including presenting media partner ABC11 Eyewitness News, iHeart Media Raleigh, Corona Premier and SunTrust.
The V Foundation’s signature events raise millions of dollars every year and are vital to funding more research. These events include the Wine Celebration, the Dick Vitale Gala, Virginia Vine and the Victory Ride. The V Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in cancer research grants. Among the highest-rated nonprofits by Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, the V Foundation continues to expand its efforts in the fight against cancer with a strict adherence to sound fiscal management and transparency. The V Foundation has received consistent 4-star ratings by Charity Navigator and is among the top 4% of cancer charities evaluated.
For more information about the Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, please visit www.thevictoryride.org. Information on the 2019 ride will be announced online. Follow the Victory Ride on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @TheVictoryRide.
