Pedaling Sunshine

Welcome to Team Pedaling Sunshine!

My name is Kelly Leach and I am the founder of Team Pedaling Sunshine. I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in August 2014. I went through 12 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, 6 weeks of radiation to my tumor site and 2 weeks of radiation to my lungs where my disease had metastasized. I am now cancer free.

I am grateful for my doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I am grateful for my husband, Dave, and my sons, Ryan and Tyler. And I am grateful for the overwhelming support of my network of friends and family during the most challenging year of my life. 

I am NOT grateful for cancer. I hate cancer. I want to put an end to this disease, and all the pain it causes so many people and so many families. So does Team Pedaling Sunshine.

Our stats are impressive:

2016 - $257,614

2017 - $273,235

2018 - $291,323

2019 - $351,746

2020 - $363,681

2021 - $205,239

2022 - $336,311

2023 - $1,162,058, in partnership with Bailey's Warriors

TOTAL = $3,241,207 over $3 MILLION RAISED IN JUST 8 YEARS!

But we can always do more!  Click JOIN THIS TEAM in one of our ride locations or participate with us virtually! 

Cycle for Survival empowers us. We are making a real difference to everyone who has ever been touched by cancer. We ride for those who previously fought cancer—so they’re not forgotten, and their battles are inspirations for more research and more progress. We ride for those currently battling–so they have effective treatments and can one day be cancer free. We ride for those who will have future battles with cancer, so that they may have numerous treatment options. 

If you’ve found yourself on this page, you’re ready to JOIN THE BATTLE with Team Pedaling Sunshine! We are so grateful for your support!

Love,

Kelly

BACKGROUND:

Pedaling Sunshine and Sunshine Striders were created by Kelly Leach, rare cancer survivor (Ewing's sarcoma) and patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  During her year of treatment, Kelly discovered Cycle for Survival and decided that this cause would be a major focus in her life after cancer.

Pedaling Sunshine and Sunshine Striders were developed simultaneously, both named after the song “You are my Sunshine” which Kelly sang to her two sons every night during treatment.  The Sunshine Striders kid runners take to the streets in Chatham NJ to run a 1-Mile loop around the Leach family residence. Kelly developed the fun run so that kids could be a part of the battle and raise critical fundraising dollars too.  Her own children helped develop the event.  

The adult spinning team Pedaling Sunshine takes to the bikes at Cycle for Survival's signature events across the country.  Over the years Pedaling Sunshine has participated in events in 10 cities across the country, and the teams have included hundreds of riders.

Most importantly, these two teams have raised over $3 million in just 8 years, and every penny of that fundraising has gone to rare cancer research, funding clinical trials and new drug development that has extended and improved the lives of cancer patients around the world.  Kelly’s oncologist, Dr. William Tap says that Cycle for Survival funding is like a lifeline to him and to his patients!

Help us bring that lifeline of warmth, light, energy and HOPE to those who need it.  JOIN THE BATTLE with Pedaling Sunshine or make a much-needed donation today.