Pink Pumpkin Pedal-off proceeds boost UF Health research of treatment-resistant breast cancer

August 7, 2013

WHAT:
The Collaboration of Scientists for Critical Research in Biomedicine, or CSCRB Inc., a Gainesville-based nonprofit group, will present a gift to the University of Florida Health Cancer Center’s treatment-resistant breast cancer research fund in the amount of $16,150. The gift represents $15,000 raised through CSCRB’s Pink Pumpkin Pedal-off charity bicycle ride and $1,150 resulting from sales of the organization’s copyrighted Pink Ribbon cycling jersey.

WHEN:
10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

WHERE:
The atrium of the UF Cancer/Genetics Research Complex, 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville

WHY:
Known as the “Two Barbs,” CSCRB Inc. members Barb Thomas and Barb Wills have been deeply affected by breast cancer — at the age of 7, Wills lost her mother to breast cancer, and Thomas is a breast cancer survivor. These experiences led the women, both of whom are avid cyclists, and other members of CSCRB Inc. to establish the Pink Pumpkin Pedal-off charity bicycle ride in 2012. The first-time event raised $15,000 in support of UF Health triple-negative breast cancer research. In addition, sales of the organization’s Pink Ribbon cycling jersey, which Thomas designed following her breast cancer experience, add $1,150 to the total gift in support of UF Health research of treatment-resistant breast cancer. The gift is made in advance of this year’s Pink Pumpkin Pedal-off charity bicycle ride, scheduled to take place Oct. 12.

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive but understudied form of breast cancer that does not respond to established therapies and treatments as well as other breast cancers. Most breast cancer treatments target tumor estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2. These are not present in triple-negative breast cancer tumors — hence “triple-negative” in the name — and breast cancer chemo and hormone therapies successfully targeting those receptors do not have the same benefit for women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. As many as 25 percent of all breast cancer cases are triple-negative, and it is a particularly deadly form of breast cancer with a high rate of recurrence.

For more information, call Lindy Brounley at 352-273-8013 or email brounley@ufl.edu.

For more information about the Pink Pumpkin Pedal-off and CSCRB Inc., visit the event Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PinkPumpkinPedalOff.