Breakthrough Challenge

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Breakthrough Challenge directs 100% of donor/participant contributions to cancer research at PMACC.

Breakthrough Bike Challenge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2014 by Randy Bown, Chris Hall, Jeff Krieger, Jennifer Pinto-Martin and Ernie Tracy. Each year the Breakthrough Bike Challenge raises funds that provide grants to support research at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center. The organization presents two different honorary awards to deserving participants, the Joan Markman Volunteer Leadership Award and the Muscoe Martin Fundraising Leadership Award. Both awards are in memory of beloved friends of the Breakthrough Bike Challenge, Joan Markman and Muscoe Martin. - See more at: http://www.breakthroughbikechallenge.org/

09/29/2026

HUGE thank you to our sponsors for helping make the possible 🙏🏼❤️

09/26/2026

Into each life, some rain must fall…

Breakthrough Nation, due to the severe weather forecast, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s Breakthrough Bike Challenge. Your safety comes first.

But the mission continues. 💙 Together, you’ve raised an incredible $330,000 and counting this year, bringing our total since 2013 to nearly $3.5 million for breakthrough cancer research at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center.

Once the weather clears, we encourage you to take your own ride and celebrate what we accomplished together. Share your photos with us .

We’ll be in touch soon with details about this year’s swag.

Thank you for continuing to ride, raise, and give hope.

SAVE THE DATE: September 12, 2027.

With gratitude,
The Breakthrough Challenge Board

09/18/2026

🚨🚨🚨JOIN US FOR
A FREE BREAKTHROUGH
SOCIAL RIDE THIS SUNDAY Sept 20th
TO GET TUNED UP FOR NEXT WEEKS BREAKTHROUGH CHALLENGE, EASTERN PA'S MOST SCENIC BIKE RIDE, WHICH WILL BE HELD SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 IN THE BEAUTIFUL OLEY VALLEY.

Breakthrough Challenge social rides are hosted by our sponsor, Trek Bicycle Ardmore, and organized by the Beam of Life team.

The rides are free and open to all. We offer two no-drop route options (a 12-mile route and a 25-mile route) through Sunday morning roads along the Main Line. The actual routes will be determined by the ride leader and may vary slightly from the Strava route maps below.

Registrations are limited for these rides, so register now! You need not be registered for the Breakthrough Challenge event on September 27th to join us on a social ride.
Helmets are required! Please be sure that your bike is in "ready to ride" condition.

The Trek store is located at 47 West Lancaster Ave; with parking in the community parking lot at the rear of the store. Entry to the community parking lot is via Ardmore Avenue

Looking forward to the ride !!! 🚴🏽🚴🏽‍♀️🚴🏽‍♀️🚴🏼‍♂️

09/17/2026

We are SOOO close to reaching our $300,000 fundraising goal for this year’s campaign! To help get us across the finish line, Tom Hecht and the Smilow Foundation are jointly sponsoring a $25,000 sprint match challenge, in memory of Muscoe Martin.

Muscoe, an accomplished Philadelphia architect who specialized in sustainable design, died of cancer in 2014, during the early years of the Breakthrough. The Breakthrough honors Muscoe’s memory each year, awarding the Muscoe Martin Fundraising Leadership Award to recognize those who lead our fundraising efforts.

Here's how the Sprint Challenge works: Starting September 14, donations will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $1,000 per donation) until the $25,000 sprint match challenge is met.
Please alert your networks — the race is on!

With your help, we can continue to fund groundbreaking cancer research at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center.

LINK BELOW TO CONTRIBUTE AND HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE 🎗️

https://www.breakthrough-challenge.org

09/16/2026

🚴 This week some of our riders are taking on something BIG — a 6-day, 420+ mile journey from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, with more than 12,000 feet of climbing along the way. That’s more than two miles of climbing on a bike.

And they’re doing it for something even bigger: cancer research.

At the heart of this ride is one of Breakthrough Bike Challenge’s biggest advocates, Dave Wellborn, the pioneer behind the Keystone State Ride and someone who continues to dream about how far this ride — and its impact — can grow.

This year alone, the Keystone Ride, raised more than $75,000, bringing the three-year total to an incredible $155,000.

What started with just 4 riders grew to 6, and this year, 12 will make the journey across Pennsylvania. The goal for 2027? 24 riders. 💪

This ride is a huge challenge. There will be climbs, long miles, tired legs and moments when the finish feels very far away.

In that way, it carries a powerful message that mirrors the fight against cancer: the challenge can feel enormous, but together they keep moving forward. One mile. One climb. One breakthrough at a time.

These riders are proof that when people come together around a purpose, incredibly hard things become possible.

To our Keystone State Riders: ride strong, ride safe, and know that the entire Breakthrough community is behind you. 💙

Pittsburgh ➡️ Philadelphia.
420+ miles. 12,000+ feet of climbing.
One mission: funding breakthroughs in cancer research.🚴

09/14/2026

September is the month to BREAKTHROUGH!

What or who will you be riding for?
LINK BELOW TO RIDE WITH US ON SEPT 27th TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND BE PART OF SOMEONE'S SURVIVAL STORY 🎗️

https://www.breakthrough-challenge.org

09/12/2026

We spend so much time worrying about the things that feel big... until our health—or the health of someone we love-is on the line.

Then everything shifts.

Health is the real wealth.

Time is the real currency.

And another day with the people we love is the real luxury.

That's why we ride.

Every mile at the Breakthrough Bike Challenge is a reminder to be grateful for what our bodies can do-and an opportunity to help fund the research that gives others the chance for more healthy days, more memories and more time.

Ride with purpose. Give with purpose. Live with gratitude.

09/07/2026

🍻 Drink. Connect. Support. 💛

Come and hang out with the Breakthrough Challenge Beam-of-Life team this Friday!

Join Radiation Oncology’s Beam of Life Team at Urban Saloon for an evening benefiting breakthroughs in cancer research at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center!

📅 Friday, September 11
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Urban Saloon
💵 $40 at the door
🍺 2-hour open bar with draft b**r & house wines
🍴 Appetizers available

Come raise a glass, support cancer research, and be part of the cure!

09/03/2026

🎗️ SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

Behind every diagnosis is a child who deserves more birthdays, more bike rides, more first days of school… more life. 💛

This month is a reminder of why research matters — and why we keep pedaling forward.

On September 27, the Breakthrough Bike Challenge brings together riders, survivors, families and supporters with one shared purpose: to help fuel lifesaving cancer research at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center.

To date, Breakthrough has donated more than $3.1 MILLION and helped fund 63 research projects.

Every mile can mean something.
Every dollar can move research forward.
Every rider can be part of the breakthrough. 🚲💛

This September, ride for the kids.
Ride for the families.
Ride for everyone still waiting for their breakthrough.

🎗️ Stronger together. Pedal for a purpose.

Join us September 27 — in Oley Valley or virtually from anywhere. LINK BELOW TO RIDE VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON… or to contribute to the next breakthrough 🙏🏼❤️

https://www.breakthrough-challenge.org

Address

PO Box 4359
Philadelphia, PA
19118

Telephone

+12155730550

Website

http://breakthrough-challenge.org/, http://linktr.ee/BreakthroughChallenge

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