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VeloSano raised more than $4.7 million in 2019, with 100% of the money raised supporting lifesaving cancer research at Cleveland Clinic. This brings the cumulative total to more than $21 million raised in six years.
Latin for “swift cure,” VeloSano is a year-round, community-driven fundraising initiative. The money raised is a culmination of many efforts, with the flagship fundraising platform being “bike to cure” weekend which occurred July 19-21.
Funds were also raised via the VeloSano Kids initiative that supports pediatric cancer research at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. More than $365,000 of the $4.7 million raised this year will benefit VeloSano Kids.
The 2019 total was announced Nov. 13 at the VeloSano Bash: Revealing the Cash celebratory event, presented by The Lerner Foundation, at Windows on the River. The $4.7 million will be allocated to cancer research projects across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise via the VeloSano Pilot and Impact Awards. In its first five years VeloSano has supported 125 cancer research projects, and the $5 million raised in the first two years of VeloSano alone has generated an additional $14 million in external research grants – a 280% return.
During the Bash it was announced that one of the Impact Awards will be named in honor of Marc Harrison, M.D., a former Cleveland Clinic physician, former CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and current president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare, who recently announced he is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma.
“On behalf of Cleveland Clinic CEO Tomislav Mihaljevic, M.D., and the entire Cleveland Clinic organization, we are pleased to announce the Marc Harrison, M.D. VeloSano Impact Award,” said Brian J. Bolwell, M.D., FACP, chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute. “Dr. Harrison will always be part of the Cleveland Clinic family. As an advocate for VeloSano’s creation, his innovative vision continues to be an inspiration to others.”
Throughout VeloSano weekend, 2,400 riders from 36 states, Canada and Great Britain pedaled nearly 100,000 miles supported by more than 1,000 volunteers. An additional 443 people from 22 states, Canada, Great Britain, India and Mexico participated as virtual riders. In total, “bike to cure” participants received more than 27,000 donations.
VeloSano has gained significant momentum in raising money for cancer research at Cleveland Clinic due to the support of its partners, including but not limited to, the Stewart Kohl Fund, the Cleveland Indians, Adcom, Jones Day, Lexus, Zack Bruell Events, Advance Ohio, Amgen, DiGeronimo Companies, Hileman Group, House of LaRose / Michelob Ultra, KeyBank and The Lerner Foundation.
VeloSano 7 “bike to cure” weekend is scheduled for July 17-19, 2020, and will be chaired by Paul Dolan, Chairman and CEO of the Cleveland Indians, and John Saada, Partner at Jones Day.
VeloSano Bash: Revealing the Cash (Nov. 13, 2019)
VeloSano 5 (2018)
VeloSano 5 (2018)
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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