Courage Ride board members present a check for $75,000 to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Research Program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Thursday, October 26th, 2023. First row: Benjamin Miller, MD, MS; John Rieth, MD; Leora Houghton, Jackie Bailey. Second row: Scott Appleget, Cathy Appleget, AJ McBride, Amy Zeller, Munir Tanas, MD. Third row: Todd Erickson, Abigail Grothe, Michael Henry, PhD
Courage Ride Raises $75,000 for Sarcoma Research at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Courage Ride, a local biking event that raises funds for sarcoma cancer research, presented a check for $75,000 to the University of Iowa’s Sarcoma Research Program during an October 26th ceremony at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Ben Miller, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. John Rieth, medical oncologist, Dr. Munir Tanas, associate professor of pathology, and Michael Henry, PhD, interim director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center accepted the check on behalf of the center’s Sarcoma Cancer Research Program.
Courage Ride is an annual event that was founded in 2005 by Jackie and Tom Bailey of Riverside, Iowa to honor the courage of their son, Seth, who passed away at age 25 after battling sarcoma for eight years.
Over the past 19 years, the event has raised $875,000 for sarcoma cancer research at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Courage Ride donations make up 85% of all sarcoma seed grant funding. Those dollars have seeded numerous sarcoma research grants, including several that have developed into larger, more extensive studies. Courage Ride funds also support one of the largest sarcoma tissue banks in the Midwest.
“The sarcoma tissue repository is a key element in our comprehensive approach to cancer research here in Iowa, as well as for a network of nationwide academic institutions studying sarcomas,” said Dr. Miller.
“I don't think it's an overstatement to say that without the Courage Ride our research program looks much, much different and much, much worse.”
This year’s Courage Ride was held August 12th, with more than 400 riders from 11 different states taking part in the event. Six different route choices as well as a virtual ride option offered something for everyone of all ages and riding abilities. All routes started and finished at Big Grove Brewery and Taproom in Iowa City, where a silent auction was also held.
Sarcoma is a rare cancer comprising less than 1% of all adult cancers and 21% of childhood cancers. There are over 150 subtypes of sarcoma that are categorized as either soft tissue or bone. Though very aggressive and difficult to treat, many survive. More research is needed to find better treatment options and eventually a cure.
The significance of Courage Ride is underscored by the fact that funding for cancer research has been shrinking over the past 20 years, according to the National Cancer Institute. And yet cancer remains one of the nation’s costliest diseases. Sarcoma receives 1 to 2 percent of all cancer research funding.
The 2024 Courage Ride will be held, Saturday, August 10th. Online registration will be available in spring 2024. Visit www.CourageRide.org for information or to make a donation.
Meet our 2024 Courage Ride Patient Honoree
Our 2024 honoree is sarcoma survivor Payton Pekarek from Union, Iowa.
My name is Payton Pekarek, and I am an Osteosarcoma Survivor.
In the fall of 2020, I began to feel a subtle, aching pain in my left knee. I was a freshman playing rugby at Iowa State University at the time and thought that I was just sore from practice. The pain was very dull, and it was only occurring at night, which at the time I thought was odd but never raised any questions because I was sure it would go away eventually. As the weeks went by, the pain would get more intense. So intense that I was not sleeping at night and was limping everywhere I went. I now knew that something was wrong, and I needed to see a doctor. When I went home for winter break, I saw a local doctor and was sent to physical therapy because my knee was not noticeably swollen. I did about four weeks of PT before heading back to Ames for the spring semester.
Sarcoma impacts patients and their families around the world.
Sarcoma Research at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is a global leader in developing sarcoma treatment therapies to improve the lives of sarcoma patients. As a result, many patients beyond Iowa seek treatment at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Courage Ride is excited to offer both an in-person ride experience and a virtual ride opportunity to the many people who cannot come to Iowa City but want to make a contribution to fighting this rare form of cancer.
The Courage Ride Board, our Sponsors, Partners, and the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center thank you for your ongoing support in the fight again Sarcoma Cancer!
Thank You to our Courage Ride Sponsors & Partners
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