On Saturday, August 1, San Diego will come together for a day of movement, community and hope at the Curebound Cancer Challenge, San Diego County’s largest community-driven fundraiser for cancer research. Formerly known as Padres Pedal the Cause, the event has united more than 20,000 participants and raised $24.5 million since its launch, with 100% of every participant-raised dollar funding collaborative research at the region’s leading institutions, including UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Salk Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Rady Children’s Health, and Scripps Research Institute.
Held at UC San Diego, the Challenge is a true community experience – a family-friendly event where participants can ride, run, or walk along the beautiful, scenic Torrey Pines coastline. Some form teams; many attend with family and friends. Whether tackling one of three world-class bike routes, joining the 5K or 10K, spinning, flowing through a yoga session, cheering from the sidelines, or volunteering, there is a place for everyone to accelerate cancer cures.
This year, the need to raise funds has never been more urgent. Curebound has received 186 letters of intent from 69 teams seeking cancer study grants this year– up 21% from last year and an all-time record. That surge represents an extraordinary pipeline of innovative cancer research happening in San Diego and waiting to be funded. Funds raised at the Challenge help determine how much of that pipeline Curebound can fulfill.
Increasing survivorship — and giving patients and families more time together — is at the heart of Curebound’s mission. Its model of investing in early-stage, high-risk research has a powerful compounding effect: seed funding for Discovery grants that develop important early science that often goes on to unlock major follow-on investment.
A striking example is Curebound’s 2024 Discovery Grant to Dr. Hojun Li of UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Health, supporting his research into pediatric leukemia prevention. Curebound’s initial $250,000 investment helped Dr. Li secure nearly $8.6 million in additional funding to advance safer, less toxic bone marrow transplant strategies for children with leukemia — a 34-fold return that is accelerating a potentially life-saving treatment for children.
“This is what early investment in science can do,” said Curebound CEO Robin Toft. “A single grant, placed at exactly the right moment, can be the difference between a brilliant idea stalling out and a breakthrough reaching the children who need it. That’s the multiplier effect of giving to Curebound: every dollar is designed to attract many more, so that the boldest, highest-risk research gets the chance to become tomorrow’s cure. When you invest in us, you’re investing in survivorship.”
More than a fundraiser, the Curebound Cancer Challenge is a community-powered event built for all ages and interests. Highlights include:
- Scenic Torrey Pines courses for cyclists and runners along one of San Diego’s most beautiful coastlines
- Kid Zone with a putt-putt green, a scavenger hunt for medals, and games – and kids can join their families in the 5K
- Premium food experience provided by UC San Diego, featuring healthy food choices, delicious tacos, Hawaiian food, and more
- Local craft beer and beverages from breweries including Coronado Brewing Company and JuneShine
- Live music throughout the day
- Yoga, new this year, alongside spin classes and group fitness
- Honor Wall (presented by Janux Therapeutics) and Survivor Bell, where the community comes together to honor loved ones and celebrate survivors
Joe Pangelinan, a cancer fighter who was a spokesperson and leader at the Curebound Cancer Challenge over many years, recently passed away after a five-year battle with lung cancer, leaving a legacy of courage. His widow, Cindy, their daughter Brenna, and their son Cayden, now helping to accelerate cancer research, carry his message forward this year at the Challenge.
“Joe never let cancer take his hope. He firmly believed that Curebound-funded research gave him treatment options that gave him more time with his family. That belief is his legacy. Our son is helping accelerate cancer research today because of the example Joe set. You fight not just for yourself, but for everyone who comes after you. At the Challenge on August 1, we’ll be carrying Joe’s courageous spirit — and we know he’d want everyone out there, doing the same,” says Cindy Pangelinan.
Registration is open now. To ride, run, walk, spin, flow, volunteer or donate to fund innovative cancer research, visit curebound.org/curebound-cancer-challenge.
2026 Cancer Challenge Sponsors include:
UC San Diego
Janux Therapeutics
Edward Jones
Genentech (Poseida Therapeutics)
RayzeBio
ResMed
Vividion Therapeutics
Illumina
Salk Institute
Bright
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
San Diego Self Storage
San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
San Diego State University
Lusardi Construction
W.E. O’Neil
Pfizer
Dexcom
JP Morgan
Eisai
San Diego County – District 3
Maravai LifeSciences
Bernstein Private Wealth Management
KPRS Construction Services, Inc
San Diego Innovation Council
Sole Bicycles
Albertsons
Show Imaging
Melissa’s Produce
Athletic Brewing
Coronado Brewing
JuneShine
PT Effect
Newtopia Cyder
Oura Ring
Outfront Media
Fox 5 News
Primal Wear Inc
Board & Brew / Blacktop Restaurant Group
Estancia Hotel
Ranch & Coast Magazine Advertising
SD Popup Mini Golf
Sun Bum
About Curebound
Curebound is a community-powered cancer research accelerator dedicated to advancing breakthrough science into cures. By breaking down barriers, investing in high-impact cancer studies and forging powerful collaborations among top scientists, advocates, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Curebound advances bold science toward better prevention, detection and treatments – to give patients and families more time. Headquartered in San Diego, a leading global hub for life sciences and cancer research, Curebound is driven by a single goal: cures in our lifetime. Join us – www.curebound.org.
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