Saturday, January 31, 2009

Thanks a Million!

(press release from Cycle for Survival)

Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Cycle for Survival Raises More Than $1 Million to Support Research on Rare Cancers

NEW YORK -- January 29, 2009 -- More than 1,500 indoor cyclists and supporters joined together at Cycle for Survival on January 25 to raise more than $1 million in support of research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

The event took place at Equinox fitness club in Midtown and at satellite locations worldwide.

Fundraising surged dramatically just before the event, with participants and donors rallying to raise over $400,000 in the final week. “In the final push, people really came through,” said Jennifer Goodman Linn, event founder and participant. “Cycle for Survival was an inspiring success and an exciting experience -- a day that brought so many people together to support the cause and share their hope for the future. It was truly overwhelming.”

Proceeds from the first two Cycle for Survival events helped underwrite a clinical trial that has led to a new chemotherapy regimen more effective at shrinking tumors in patients with some forms of rare cancer.

Dr. Robert Maki, associate attending physician and co-director of the Adult Sarcoma Program in Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Department of Medicine, acknowledged the need for continued research. “The standard drugs we have used for the first fifty years of the history of medical oncology are toxic and not always particularly effective,” said Maki. “By gaining a better understanding of the basic biology of these types of cancers, we hope to develop more precise treatments that focus on specific targets in the cancer cell...”

more here

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