We have some exciting and important news to share.
Kelly Nelson, a Senior Construction Manager based in our Ohio office, is participating in a 3-day bike ride fundraiser hosted by Pelotonia, a grassroots movement that has raised more than $188 million to end cancer. Thanks to its generous funding partners, Pelotonia donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar to cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
So far in 2019, Pelotonia has raised over $5 million and counting.
During the 3-day ride, participants will have the chance to experience a weekend of cycling, entertainment, and volunteerism.
However, this ride is more personal to Kelly.
His story begins in 2011 when Kelly had a suspicious mole removed from his left forearm. The biopsy revealed that Kelly had melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. After what he thought was a successful surgery to remove the small area, the melanoma returned in the same spot, only deeper. And after only a few short months it was revealed that I had developed multiple tumors in other distant areas of my body - a sign that the melanoma was spreading aggressively.
By February 2013, Kelly was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma. On April 9th that same year he began treatment at The James Cancer Hospital and a grueling 9-month series of immunotherapy, spending a total of 8 weeks inpatient at The James. With much hope, strength, and encouragement Kelly was able to endure a tremendous amount of treatment.
By January of 2014, Kelly’s doctor was able to report that he no longer had any evidence of this disease; all the tumors were gone. That was over 5 years ago. Kelly is so fortunate to be included in the group that has received a positive outcome.
But many are not so lucky.
He is living proof there is a hope to defeat cancer. Kelly’s life is a testimony to the advances in medicine and treatment methods resulting directly from research at The James.As a stage 4 cancer survivor and a patient of OSU and the James Cancer Hospital, Kelly was a direct beneficiary of the advancement in cancer treatment due to this great research institution.
Kelly and the rest of us at SHYFT Collective invite you to read his story and consider contributing to this very important cause.We all have been affected by cancer in one way or another and we all know how devastating it can be.The smallest contribution can make the biggest impact in the lives of many families suffering from this disease.
Please consider helping Kelly reach his fundraising goal that goes directly to funding life-saving research.