Pedal the Cause supporters gathered at Ballpark Village last week as the organization presented a record-breaking donation of $3,300,029 to Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital at the Pedal the Cause Check Presentation Celebration. One hundred percent of the donation was raised by riders, spinners, volunteers, virtual riders and kids participating in the seventh annual Pedal the Cause, a cycling challenge and weekend community celebration with the goal of curing all cancers for everyone. Pedal the Cause 2016 took place on September 24 and 25 at the Chesterfield Amphitheater.

“Pedal the Cause supporters have been busy fundraising all year and should be incredibly proud of not only this enormous check, but more importantly of the impact their donations are having on the state of cancer,” said Jay Indovino, executive director of Pedal the Cause. “Funds from Pedal the Cause have kick-started new ideas and projects that would not have received funding otherwise. These projects are producing strong results, new treatments and meriting large federal grants. We are truly changing the course of cancer.”

The support of sponsors, led by Edward Jones, ensures that 100 percent of donations made to Pedal the Cause directly fund cancer research projects at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. During the event weekend in September, Edward Jones announced a renewed commitment of $1 million over the next three years to support Pedal the Cause’s 100-percent model.

In 2016, more than 4,000 riders, spinners and volunteers, with the support of more than 30,000 donors, have made Pedal the Cause the region’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event. In seven years of fundraising, Pedal the Cause participants have donated $15,807,029 to its beneficiaries, funding 74 cancer research projects, including 50 adult and 24 pediatric projects. Funds donated by Pedal the Cause in 2016 will be distributed to the most promising research projects in 2017.