I am honored to once again partner with the Miami Dolphins for the Dolphins Cycling Challenge IV benefiting UM’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year’s Cycling Challenge is scheduled for November 2 and 3, and riders can choose routes that range from 30 to 170 miles and travel through 37 cities in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. This exciting and inspiring event provides our community with an opportunity to unite around the goal of conquering cancer—a mission tirelessly pursued by Sylvester’s extraordinary team of doctors, clinicians, researchers, faculty, and staff.

Thanks to the dedication of riders, sponsors, and volunteers, last year’s Dolphins Cycling Challenge raised $2.2 million. More than 1,400 cyclists and nearly 450 volunteers from the Dolphins’ special teams program participated in the event. One-hundred percent of the funds raised by participating riders benefit Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a world-class center that offers compassionate patient care and leading-edge research to prevent and eradicate cancer. 

Shira Kastan, assistant vice president of government and community relations, and Bill Kingston, executive director of development at Sylvester, and their dedicated staff will lead the University’s efforts. Get involved—I challenge each of our departments and schools to appoint a captain to help recruit and engage our UM community, family, and friends in the Dolphins Cycling Challenge. With your help, we hope to increase overall participation and surpass last year’s outstanding achievement.

Let’s celebrate our loved ones, friends, and colleagues who have won the fight against cancer, and honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to this destructive—but far from invincible—foe. Join the ride, and together we’ll tackle cancer one mile at a time.