More than 3,000 participants gathered at UC San Diego in August 2025 for the **Curebound Cancer Challenge**, raising an impressive **$4 million** to support vital cancer research. This event transcended the physical activities of riding, running, and walking; it emphasized community solidarity in the fight against cancer.
Participants included cancer patients, survivors, families, and researchers, all united by the goal of advancing scientific discovery and improving patient outcomes. The funds generated from this year’s Challenge, coupled with donor contributions and other initiatives such as the **Elton John concert** held last May at Petco Park, have allowed **Curebound** to allocate over **$43 million** since its inception. This funding has supported **143 study grants** across **23 different types of cancer**.
Curebound plans to invest an additional **$8 to $10 million** in early-stage research in the coming year. Despite these efforts, the demand for funding outstrips available resources.
“There are effective cancer therapies available today that didn’t exist a year ago—real breakthroughs that are saving lives right now,” stated **Curebound Chief Science Advisor Ezra Cohen, MD**. He emphasized the potential for further advancements if continued investment is made in promising early-stage studies.
Cohen also highlighted the urgency of the situation. “With federal funding cuts and dozens of vital studies at risk of stalling, we can’t afford to rest. We must act boldly, supporting high-risk, high-reward research led by the brightest scientific minds to bring the next generation of life-saving discoveries to patients.”
San Diego is emerging as a leading center for cancer research, bolstered by Curebound’s funding strategy, which has catalyzed groundbreaking studies, patents, clinical trials, and partnerships. The funds from the Challenge support six key institutions: **UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center**, the **Salk Institute**, **Sanford Burnham Prebys**, the **La Jolla Institute for Immunology**, **Rady Children’s Health**, and **Scripps Research**.
The August event received substantial backing from local corporations and institutions, including **Edward Jones San Diego**, **Janux Therapeutics**, **Pfizer**, and **Thermo Fisher Scientific**, among others.
Anne Marbarger, CEO of Curebound, reflected on the community’s commitment. “The remarkable show of support from the San Diego community at Curebound’s Cancer Challenge will continue to fuel the groundbreaking work being done right here in our region,” she remarked. “Every dollar raised drives innovative research and moves us closer to a world without cancer.”
For those interested in learning more about Curebound or participating in the **2026 Cancer Challenge**, further details are available on their website.
