Thousands of riders, families, cancer survivors, researchers, volunteers and supporters came together September 19–20 at Family Arena in St. Charles for the 17th annual Pedal the Cause, turning two days of cycling and community into critical funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

With fundraising continuing through October 31, Pedal the Cause has raised $4.4 million toward its goal of raising more than $5 million this year. One hundred percent of participant-raised donations directly fund cancer research here in St. Louis, with global impact.

Since its founding in 2010, Pedal the Cause has raised more than $56 million, funding hundreds of research projects focused on developing new treatments, improving early detection, advancing prevention and giving patients more options in the fight against cancer.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the participants, donors, volunteers and everyone whose support has driven the tremendous success of Pedal the Cause over the years,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, Director, Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine. “The breadth of partnership spanning corporate organizations as well as patients, their families and friends, care teams and researchers, and many others is inspiring — fueling remarkable progress against cancer with every mile pedaled, every scientific puzzle solved, every patient cured. These are extraordinary achievements and a testament to the lasting impact we’re creating together. We are thankful for all you do.”

The weekend offered a powerful reminder of what those research dollars make possible, with 2,538 riders taking to the roads Sunday across routes ranging from 10 to 100 miles, 154 participants riding stationary bikes in the Spin Zone, over 700 volunteers contributing to the event, and 361 children taking part in the Kids Challenge Saturday morning. Meanwhile, 381 cancer survivors and patients led the Living Proof Procession during Saturday evening’s Inspirational Program.

Together, those moments reflected the many reasons the Pedal the Cause community continues to show up — for loved ones, for survivors, for children facing cancer and for the researchers working every day to change what is possible.

“Every year, we see this community turn hope into action,” said David Drier, executive director of Pedal the Cause. “This year’s ride weekend was an incredible expression of that commitment, but the real impact continues long after the bikes are put away. The dollars our community raises give researchers the opportunity to pursue promising ideas that can lead to new discoveries, clinical trials and better outcomes for patients. Together, we are changing the course of cancer.”

Pedal-funded research has also helped attract significant additional investment to St. Louis. For every $1 contributed by Pedal the Cause, the research it supports has helped generate an additional $14 in outside funding within five years, contributing to more than $750 million in total cancer research funding.

The 2026 weekend was presented by Edward Jones, the St. Louis Area Hyundai Dealers and Hyundai Hope on Wheels Foundation, with additional support from sponsors, teams, volunteers and thousands of individual participants.

While the event weekend has concluded, the 2026 fundraising campaign continues through October 31. Donations can be made at pedalthecause.org.

Select photos from Pedal the Cause 2026 can be viewed and downloaded here: https://pedalthecause.canto.com/b/UOH7R

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About Pedal the Cause: Pedal the Cause is the St. Louis region’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event and a top 10 cause-related cycling event in North America. Founded in 2010, Pedal the Cause provides critical funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. One hundred percent of participant-raised donations directly fund cancer research. Since 2010, Pedal the Cause has raised more than $56 million, funding hundreds of cancer research projects and helping generate more than $750 million in additional cancer research funding. Visit pedalthecause.org to learn more.