Thousands take the Anti-Cancer Challenge, raising over $1.3 million for critical research
10th annual event funds will drive innovation in cancer treatments, prevention and cures
Irvine, Calif. — More than 3,800 participants joined the 10th annual UC Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge to support lifesaving research at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and its pediatric affiliate Rady Children's Health.
Participants in this year’s run, ride and walk event, held Oct. 10 on the university campus in Irvine, raised more than $1.3 million ahead of the Oct. 31 donation deadline.
It brings the total raised to over $9 million since 2017, when Orange County’s premiere cycling rally was founded to support innovative, paradigm-shifting research to advance cancer therapies and seek potential cures at the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Orange County.
“This event has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams,” said Anti-Cancer Challenge founder Dr. Richard A. Van Etten, director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“I am deeply moved that this annual community ride, run and walk has become a cherished tradition, supporting our efforts to bring an end to cancer.”
Every dollar raised has directly supported 190 pilot projects, early-phase clinical trials and ambitious translational research projects, Van Etten noted. To date, those research efforts have generated an additional $80 million in external research funding, a return of $15 to $18 dollars for every participant-raised dollar.
“This is how we continue to advance treatments and improve outcomes for cancer patients here in Orange County and beyond.”
Event day kickoff
As the day dawned, cyclists were waved onto road routes of 14 to 100 miles by Van Etten and Dr. Michael J. Stamos, interim vice chancellor of the UC Irvine College of Health Sciences. Nate Shinagawa, chief operating officer and senior vice president of UCI Health, sent mountain bikers on their journey through Crystal Cove State Park.
Throngs of other participants joined a 5K run/walk around the university campus, cheered on by family and friends.
The day also featured a wellness festival and a UCI Health pavilion offering community health education and free prostate cancer screening. Entertainment included performances by the Hunting Waldo Band,dancers with the Onco-Ballet Foundation, the Anaheim Ducks Street Team with mascot Wild Wing, and the Rockafellas Band.
KTLA Orange County Bureau Chief Chip Yost returned as this year’s emcee for the opening ceremony, which featured Marcello Simeone performing the national anthem.
Celebrating honorees
Event day also included a heartfelt ceremony honoring Kimberly Thorp for her inspiring fight against lung cancer. UCI Health medical oncologist Dr. Misako Nagasaka, who has been at Thorp’s side throughout her four-year journey, received this year’s physician award.
Thorp’s daughter was 2 years old when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2022. Nagasaka’s determination to find the best path forward for her patient has enabled Thorp to celebrate birthdays, family trips and everyday life with her now 6-year-old daughter.
Throughout those four years, Thorp and her husband Dan have supported the Anti-Cancer Challenge. For two of those years, their philanthropy has fully funded cancer research led by Nagasaka in hopes of changing outcomes from other lung cancer patients.
“Other people gave their time and resources and participated in clinical trials so that treatments like mine could exist,” she said.
“Research gave me time with my daughter. Supporting research is our way of helping give that possibility to someone else.”
Dedicated sponsors and teams
Sponsors of the tenth anniversary event included the Anaheim Ducks, OCVibe, Kanani Advisory Group and TALG Law.
The 2026 Partners in Research — individuals, teams and corporations that have raised or donated $50,000 or more to the UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge — include such dedicated supporters as Team Answer for Cancer, Chao Family and Friends, Driving Out Cancer, Team Michelle, Monster Energy Cares, Hensel Phelps and Lynn Capouya Inc.
Other top fundraising teams include Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co., the Ovary Achievers and the Jafari Lab Healthspanners.
Team Answer for Cancer co-captains Ronit Benjamin and Shawn Miller got a special shoutout Saturday, complete with streamer cannons, for reaching a milestone of $2 million raised for the Anti-Cancer Challenge over the last 10 years. They were presented with this year’s Top Fundraiser and Top Fundraising Team awards, after posting $430,000 for the 2026 event.
Every dollar raised this year will be awarded to novel studies submitted by the cancer center’s clinician researchers and basic scientists early next year.
Donations for the 10th annual Anti-Cancer Challenge will be accepted through Oct. 31. Visit anti-cancerchallenge.org/donate to make a contribution.
People who are interested in joining the 11th annual Anti-Cancer Challenge may reach out at anti-cancerchallenge@uci.edu for more information.