Community Impact Research & Discovery UConn Health

September 21, 2022 | Combined Reports

UConn Employee’s Family Cycling 1,300 miles to Fight Children’s Cancer

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month the Cook Family from Simsbury is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge USA in support of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

UConn's Matthew Cook with wife Melissa and their two sons, Landon (10) and Bryce (3). Photo Courtesy of Cook Family.

Meet the Cycling Cooks!

Matthew Cook of Simsbury works for UConn and UConn Health in the Office of the Vice President of Research. Cook and his wife Melissa and their two sons, Landon age 10 years, and Bryce age 3 years, are riding 325 miles each and plan to raise $5,000 during the month of September for Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) in support of its 8th annual Great Cycle Challenge USA.

“Over 15,000 American children are diagnosed with cancer every year and, sadly, 38 children die every week,” said Daniel Gumnit, Chief Executive Officer at Children’s Cancer Research Fund. “Thanks to riders like Matt, Melissa, Landon and Bryce, we’re fueling groundbreaking research to save lives and give kids the brighter future they deserve.”

“This is the third time we have participated in Great Cycle Challenge,” said UConn’s Matthew Cook who is Director of Research IT Services in the Office of the Vice President for Research. “During the past two years, we rode 250 miles each year and raised $10,294.33. This year, we aim to raise $5,000 and ride at least 325 miles each for a total of 1300 miles. Currently, thanks to the generous support of friends, neighbors and the community, we’re at 60% of our fundraising goal. We’ll be out on the trails biking daily. This year we are riding for Liam, an 8 year old boy diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, one of the most common childhood cancers.”

Funds go to support research at leading pediatric cancer centers across America to develop better treatments (and outcomes) when battling childhood cancer.

Founded in 2015, Great Cycle Challenge USA has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the country. In just seven years, over 440,000 riders from 50 states have ridden 29.7 million miles, raising more than $52 million for research and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. This year, CCRF hopes over 60,000 riders will help it raise more than $10 million. Learn more about Great Cycle Challenge USA at: greatcyclechallenge.com and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund at: childrenscancer.org.

To support the “Cycling Cooks” Great Cycle Challenge USA, view their progress, or ride in the challenge, please visit GreatCycleChallenge.com/Riders/MatthewCook3.