By: Dayna Park

Every pedal stroke of The Big Ride is a step toward progress in cancer research. The Big Ride is a fundraising event organized by GIVETOLIVE, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring people to challenge themselves physically while raising money for cancer research.

Participants cycle long distances all over the world and ride for hundreds of kilometers on this tough but inspiring journey.

Funds raised through The Big Ride help the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (BHCRI) provide critical financial support to graduate students working on innovative cancer research. By alleviating financial stress, this funding enables young researchers to focus on the exciting studies that have the potential to improve cancer treatments and outcomes.

For graduate and post-graduate students Jorge Pinzon Mejia and Daniel Medina-Luna at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, the funding they received through The Big Ride has been transformative—both professionally and personally.

Fueling Innovation Through Community Generosity

Atlantic Canada faces some of the highest colorectal cancer rates in the country, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador. For Jorge Pinzon Mejia, tackling this urgent health challenge is both a professional and deeply personal mission.

“My grandfather passed away from stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer,” he shares. “I hope my research will help families avoid the loss and missed experiences that cancer took from me.”

Jorge’s work focuses on the immune system’s response to colorectal cancer, specifically how immunotherapy can be made more effective for patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors. Unlike microsatellite instable (MSI) tumors, which respond well to immunotherapy, MSS tumors remain resistant. His goal? To expand immunotherapy treatment options and improve outcomes for more patients.

For Daniel Medina-Luna, the fight against cancer lies in harnessing the power of Natural Killer (NK) cells—a promising tool in developing cancer vaccines.

“NK cells have the potential to recognize and destroy cancer cells before they grow into tumors,” he explains. “If we can train them to ‘remember’ cancer cells, we could create a vaccine that prevents cancer from taking hold in the first place.”

Now a postdoctoral researcher at Dalhousie, Daniel is also exploring how to incorporate immunotherapy into patient treatment plans. Immunotherapies cause much fewer side effects caused by cancer therapies like radiation, and Daniel hopes to make them more accessible to patients—whether their cancer type is MSS or MSI.

A Life-Changing Investment in Research

Both Jorge and Daniel received their first research funding from The Big Ride, through BHCRI’s support for graduate and post-graduate students. The impact of this funding extends beyond financial relief—it provides young researchers with stability, mentorship, and a sense of belonging in Atlantic Canada’s cancer research community.

“Receiving this funding was a huge relief,” says Jorge. “It allowed me to focus on my research rather than worry about how to pay rent.”

For Daniel, it opened doors to collaboration and long-term career prospects.

“It’s helped me establish my research, build important networks here in Nova Scotia, and contribute more meaningfully to the field.”

Dr. Jeanette Boudreau, Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie and the Scientific Director of BHCRI, believes GIVETOLIVE’s The Big Ride plays a critical role in developing the next generation of cancer researchers.

“GIVETOLIVE is an amazing organization that really leverages community engagement for the betterment of its participants and the community.” Says Dr. Boudreau. “BHCRI, as one of the benefactors, is turning the generous contributions from The Big Ride into training programs for learners in Atlantic Canada.”

Dr. Boudreau acknowledges that BHCRI relies on the generosity of GIVETOLIVE to help support graduate, undergraduate and post-doctoral fellows as they complete their cancer research and build important networks and connections they will keep throughout their careers.

“At BHCRI, we are proud to support the community of people living with and beyond cancer, trainees, and researchers as we move together toward a vision of a better future, with better access to care and fewer side effects for patients with cancer,” says Dr. Boudreau.

Inspired to Give Back

Beyond the lab, both Jorge and Daniel are both cyclists in their spare time who admire the dedication of Big Ride participants.

“The riders are incredible—not just for their physical endurance but for the impact they create,” says Jorge. “One day, I hope to join them and give back the same opportunity I received.”

For Daniel, the ride mirrors the challenges of research itself—demanding, exhausting, yet immensely rewarding.

“Whether it’s the last five kilometers of the ride or long hours in the lab, every effort and every dollar raised counts toward advancing cancer research,” he says.

Riding Toward a Cure

Through The Big Ride and the generosity of its supporters, researchers like Jorge and Daniel are turning passion into progress, pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment, and offering hope to countless patients and families.

And perhaps, in next year’s Big Ride, two new riders will take their place in the pack—cycling not just for the challenge, but for the future of cancer research.