Momentum Builds: LOWVELO hits record for cancer research

two men stand at a podium with one holding a LOWVELO jersey that is covered in large red polka dots

LOWVELO director Chris Winn, right, presents Paul Consolo with a polka dot jersey for being the "best fundraising hill climber" in LOWVELO25. In the Tour de France, the polka dot jersey is awarded to the leader of the mountain stages. Photo by Kristin Lee

Another million-dollar moment set up another record-breaking year for LOWVELO. Riders in LOWELO25 teamed up to raise more money for lifesaving cancer research at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center than any ride in its seven-year history. Participants — all 1,640 of them — combined to collect $1,132,416. That’s an 11.5% increase over the previous year. It all culminated Wednesday night with the Jerry Zucker Awards Ceremony at the Cooper River Room in Mount Pleasant.

“Aside from the number of riders, what we saw is that y’all got very good at raising even more money than we did last year. This is a new record,” said event director Chris Winn. “I’m thrilled. For us in Charleston, not necessarily known for being a bicycle-friendly city – we sure are fundraiser-friendly. Kudos to every LOWVELO rider.”

The night was a celebration of the riders who put in the work to continue building the momentum for LOWVELO, including 50 individuals who raised more than $2,500. Ten of those riders went above and beyond, each raising more than $10,000.

One special family took up the first three rows of seats as a video played to honor their patriarch, Marty Perlmutter. Perlmutter was one of the first patients at Hollings to receive CAR-T cell therapy, a groundbreaking immunotherapy that saw its first clinical trial at Hollings funded in part by LOWVELO riders.

The team from the Bishop Gadsden retirement community received a Barrier Island Award, given to groups that created offsite events to raise money for the cause. Their team took part in fitness activities at their own speed and raised more than $23,000. Four volunteers were given Anchor Awards for their selfless contributions to LOWVELO25 – Jay Crawford, Carol Morgan, Harrison Mack and Allie Jackson.

a large happy family of multiple generations

The Perlmutter family was on hand for a video that played during the ceremony honoring their involvement in LOWVELO in memory of their late husband, father and grandfather, Marty Perlmutter. Photo by Clif Rhodes

LOWVELO25’s most senior rider was also in the house. At 106 years young, Kathryn Magruder rode a stationary cycle.

“Let me tell you — if she can do it, all of you can do it,” said MUSC Hollings Cancer Center director Ray DuBois, M.D., Ph.D.

Some of the event’s top teams were also highlighted, including Johnson & Johnson, led by Fran Johnson, Jr., who took home the yellow jersey as the top overall fundraiser, single-handedly raising more than $33,000. Rounding out the top five teams were First Capital Bank – which raised $171,447, more than any other team — Team Tobacco Free, Team SueNami and Charleston Beer Riders. Team riders this year combined to raise almost a million dollars out of the total $1.13 million, highlighting the value of pedaling together.

So where does all this money go? DuBois explained that events like LOWVELO allow Hollings to fund brand new ideas and help researchers to become eligible for large government grants.

“MUSC receives less than 6% of its operating budget from the state, and national research funding is increasingly competitive in the current environment,” said DuBois. “So, this is why philanthropy is essential to our work. It gives us the flexibility to innovate, move faster and lead. It enables us to remain the state’s foremost resource for cancer research and treatment. Your participation in LOWVELO directly fuels new discoveries, advances new treatments and brings us closer to cures.”

Hollings director Ray DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., talks about the impact of the funds raised by LOWVELO riders. Photo by Kristin Lee

The money raised by LOWVELO riders becomes a force multiplier when the research demonstrates merit. To date, LOWVELO-funded pilot projects have brought in an additional $24 million from the NIH to advance new therapies.

Rider-raised funds will continue to support work in many areas, including Hollings’ increased efforts for glioblastoma research. Glioblastoma is a devastating, aggressive brain tumor with incredibly low survival rates. The average glioblastoma survival time is 12 to 18 months. Only 25% of patients survive more than one year, and only 5% of patients survive beyond five years.

“Novel research is the only way to improve the odds for this terrible disease,” said DuBois. “In just 2 years, almost $500,000 in LOWVELO funding has been directed towards making progress in this area.”

Rider-raised dollars have also made a difference by funding research on CAR-T cell therapy, colon cancer, triple-negative breast cancer and many other projects.

LOWVELO will return for its eighth year on Nov. 7. Registration is now open with an early bird incentive that runs through midnight on March 22. Riders can sign up for any route – 7, 14, 23, 50 or 80 miles, the stationary ride or take part in our Home Team (virtual) ride – with just a $400 fundraising commitment. After March 22, those commitments will increase for the 23-, 50- and 80-mile routes. The LOWVELO team hopes to register at least 2,000 riders for this year’s event with a fundraising goal of $1.4 million.

“I think LOWVELO is all about getting comfortable being uncomfortable,” said Winn. “Riding can certainly be uncomfortable, but you find the motivation to keep going. Conversations around cancer can be uncomfortable, too. Raising money is uncomfortable. But joining this ride means stepping out of your comfort zone and using your voice to benefit its mission and all the people we hope to help in the future with better cancer care.”

LOWVELO25 Awardees

Yellow Jersey (Individual who raised the most funds)

Fran Johnson, Jr.

Polka Dot Jersey (Individual who was the top fundraising “hill climber”)

Paul Consolo

Rip Tide Club (Individual riders who raised $10,000+)

Harvey Glick
Fran Johnson, Jr.
Paul Consolo
Dr. Gerard Silvestri
Jenny McKay
Dr. Bryan Kazley
Dan Parker
Lisa DuBois
Elliott Erickson
David Spedden
Ben Woodworth

King Tide Club (Individual riders who raised $7,500+)

Dr. Ben Toll
Griff Polk

High Tide Club (Individual riders who raised $5,000+)

Francis Johnson
Tom Dunleavy
Kenneth Knapp
Trisha Newitt
Kerry Short
Dr. Ray DuBois
Kathy Lubin
Jared Pyritz
Mary Tinebra
David Verbance
Jeremy Anspach

Low Tide Club (Individual riders who raised $2,500+)

Dr. Craig Lockhart
Harry Johnson
Landon Sanford
Derrick Herbst
Margaret Higgins
Scott Miner
Michael Naioti
James McKee
Matthew Keane
Jonathan & Elis Shanin
James Cooper
Allison King
Tiffany Reid
Leonard Hanson
Maureen Dunleavy
Dr. David Marshall
John Hoekman
Dr. John Kaczmar
Rebecca Wright
Will Roshkowski
Liza Johnson
Dan Rinder
Daniel Osborne
Tracey DeLong
Peter Wright
Dr. John O’Bryan
Marshall Sanford

Top Teams

First Capital Bank, Jimmy Hyams & Joe Kassim
Johnson & Johnson, Virginia Rhode
Team Tobacco Free, Dr. Ben Toll
Team SueNami, Jenny McKay
Charleston Beer Riders, Chris Winn