Eighth Annual Velocity Ride Brings Together Columbia Community in Fight Against Cancer

The Columbia community and supporters gathered in the Hudson Valley on Oct. 6 for the eighth annual Velocity: Columbia’s Ride to End Cancer. This year’s Velocity raised more than $1 million and attracted nearly 600 participants to support the work of researchers at Columbia’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Velocity cyclists had the option of riding 15K, 50K, or 100K, while many others participated through Velocity Your Way, choosing their own activities (ranging from hiking and yoga to Zumba and swimming).

But numbers tell only part of the story.  Velocity brings together doctors and their patients, Columbia researchers and cancer survivors, and people from across the university and the region, all with the goal of supporting the fight against cancer.

James McKiernan, interim dean of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, participated in the Velocity ride, as he has done each year since the event was established. He offered his fellow participants some words of encouragement and highlighted the importance of their collective efforts.

“Today we ride to celebrate survivorship, research, and the memories of those we’ve lost, and to support some of the brightest minds in the world taking on the toughest challenges to help solve cancer,” McKiernan said.

The event included several participants who have been treated successfully for cancer at Columbia, many of whom were joined by their doctors. Among them was Velma Perkins, a retired customer service manager for Verizon, who was diagnosed with a rare uterine sarcoma in 2016. Though chemotherapy kept the disease at bay for several years, it returned aggressively in 2019 and had spread. At that point she came to Columbia, where a team of experts in surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, colorectal surgery, and others assembled to create a targeted program for her. While continuing her treatment, Velma is still defying the odds, joining Velocity as an active participant alongside one of her doctors, Katie Spina, a radiation oncologist, and Kjersten Dosumu, a nurse practitioner.

Another highlight was the participation of Ben Schwartz, a 36-year-old financial planner and father of two, who at 29 years old was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Schwartz is a patient of McKiernan’s, and at the race together, they announced that for the past six years, Schwartz has been cancer-free.

Lydia Cunningham, a registered nurse, told her story during one of the opening ceremonies. In the years since her first diagnosis with breast cancer in 2013, breast cancer care has advanced significantly thanks to the kind of research funded by Velocity. Though Lydia’s journey has been difficult, her targeted treatment has yielded results, and at her most recent exam last month, she was cancer-free. She attended Velocity with Kathy Crew, a Columbia oncologist who has long been a part of Lydia’s journey.

Anil Rustgi, director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, offered words of thanks to the participants.

“Work in breast cancer, brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, and so many other areas is being fueled by every mile you ride and every dollar you raise,” Rustgi said. “Thank you for getting up on a Sunday morning to take a bike ride together to change and save lives.”

Those who are interested can continue to support Velocity and help fuel cancer research and care by making a donation.