CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center wants folks to sign up for an upcoming annual bike ride that raises money for cancer research.
At their “Glow Blue Festival” on Wednesday, MUSC students, faculty, and people just passing by participated in a dunk tank, bought snacks and t-shirts and even received massages on the greenway.
This was all done in an effort to attract folks to sign up for the Lowvelo annual bike ride.
Lowvelo Director Chris Winn says this fundraiser started in 2019, and its goal is to raise money for clinical trials and cancer research at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. In the last few years, he says they have been able to raise $3 million just from the bike rides, and some of that money has then paid for experimental therapies.
He says that it then turned into a $24 million return from the National Institute of Health to fund even more therapies.
“I think like most people, we have all been touched by cancer in some way, shape or form,” Winn said. “And it’s unfortunately pervasive. I lost my father and both my in-laws to cancer. So, for me, I’m not a researcher, I’m not a physician, and I found myself in the aftermath of their loss, trying to find a way to do something. And this is a great opportunity for folks to do something and help with that big lift that is hopefully eradicating cancer.”
For folks who want to be a part of this movement, sign-ups are on the Lowvelo website for various routes across Charleston County. This can be a 7-mile ride or even up to 80 miles.
“You find people who are too inspired to be tired,” Winn said. “They’re going to go out there and work hard. Whatever exertion and whatever work it takes for them is nothing for folks getting treated for their own cancer treatments.”
Winn says there’s also some spin classes folks can take instead of the full bike routes. The big race is on Nov. 1.