Want to learn more about the amazing community that came together last year?
Take a look back with our 2022 annual report.
Fred Hutch Obliteride celebrated our 10th year this August — and this community came out with a record-breaking, heart-filling show of joy and connection. THANK YOU!
After two years of being apart, the energy on Obliteride weekend was amazing. From dancing at the Friday Night Party to cheering folks across the finish line on Obliteride Day, our in-person event in Seattle was unforgettable. And from Austin to Atlanta and Canada to Croatia, our virtual challengers showed us how it’s done — biking, kayaking, knitting and more.
This season, we welcomed a record-setting 5,500 participants and 430 volunteers on more than 450 teams. And, together with our sponsors, donors, and partners, we raised more than $4.8 million dollars — our largest fundraising amount ever — for innovative science at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Obliteriders: we are so grateful. We could not do any of this without you.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading this exciting 2022 report. It’s a great way to get to get know your fellow participants, meet some of our sponsors, and learn about the work you support.
Even more importantly: I hope you’ll feel proud of all you’ve accomplished this year. On behalf of myself, the Obliteride team, and everyone at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Thank you. We are honored that you're part of this community and inspired by your dedication to helping Fred Hutch cure cancer faster. See you next year!
Healthier, Together
“I ended up doing the Obliteride 5K, and my son did it with me," said Laura Sisemore (right). "He and I cheered each other on the whole way, and right before the finish line, he grabbed my hand and said, ‘Come on Mom! We have to cross together!’ Knowing that my kid saw his mom trying her best to be healthy and active and wanted to be a part of that meant so much.”
United for Good
Team Stripe returned for their second Obliteride, uniting teammates from Seattle to San Francisco and across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This year, 163 “Stripes” raised more than $40,400 — along with awareness for Fred Hutch.
Giving Back
Reggie Kimborough (right) and Sophe Ap, former research scientists at Fred Hutch, volunteered at Obliteride along with their son, Ridden (left) and their daughter, Josie. In addition to giving them a chance to show their commitment to Fred Hutch’s mission, Obliteride is “a good time for the entire family to practice giving back,” said Reggie.
Community Commitment
"We are committed to supporting the thriving life science sector in our region and state," said John Cox, senior vice president — regional market director for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. "Supporting Obliteride and Obliteride teams is a fantastic way to reinforce that mission. We enjoyed connecting with this incredible community to help fight cancer and infectious diseases."
Taking Action
Obliteride is a personal commitment for Michelle McGree (left), who rode with her mom (right), dad, and the Blazin Saddles team. “I am a two-time breast cancer survivor and a stubborn, hopeful, enthusiastic lover of life. Cancer never has, and never will define me,” said Michelle. “I started riding when I had my double mastectomy … and then I found Obliteride: A way to help myself while helping others.”
Safety and Support
Lease Crutcher Lewis returned for their 10th year. As official Safety Sponsor, Lewis outfitted volunteers with safety vests, provided vital equipment for Obliteride, and rallied their volunteers and participants, who raised an outstanding $65,791!
10-Year Participant Spotlight
Carolyn Callaghan
“I couldn't be more proud to support the lifesaving research at Fred Hutch. But this year it's personal. In December [2021], I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In my 17 years of working at Fred Hutch I have seen the advances we've made. That's why I participate year in and year out, and why I participated this year — with my amazing sister by my side.”
Raised to support
Fred Hutch
Participants
(a new record!)
Teams
Volunteers
Fred Hutch employee participants and volunteers
Donors
Donations received
Participants who raised $1,000 or more
Fred Hutch researchers supported
Corporate sponsors
Impressions on social media
Social media followers
100% of participant-raised dollars go to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Over the last 10 years, the Obliteride community has fueled more than $40 million in breakthrough work at Fred Hutch. With your partnership, Fred Hutch scientists, clinicians, and staff are advancing prevention, treatment, care, and cures for cancer and infectious diseases — and improving countless lives.
Our goal? A healthier life for every person in every community.
"Cancer does not affect one person. It affects a father, a sister, a family, a community. Together, we built this Obliteride community to raise the resources we need to fight cancer. I cannot think of anything more worthwhile."
— Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD, Fred Hutch president and director, holder of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair, and 2022 Obliterider
OUR COMMUNITY
From first-time Obliteriders to 10-year participants, our event united thousands of people in 2022.
WHY WE PARTICIPATE
Whether they joined to have fun, honor loved ones, be part of a company team, or for another reason, every participant made a difference.
HOW WE PARTICIPATED
Whether they joined us in Seattle or picked their own virtual challenges, Obliteriders went all-out for cancer cures in 2022! Here’s a look at how participants joined up this year.
OUR LEADERBOARDS
It all starts with a simple question: “Will you support my Obliteride?” Whether participants raised $1 or $10,000, their fundraising — and the support of their donors — fuels breakthrough research at Fred Hutch. THANK YOU! As of November 1, 2022.
Where the Money Goes
Fred Hutch researchers, clinicians, and staff count on Obliteride to support world-changing science — and our community answers the call! Thanks to our generous sponsors, 100% of every participant-raised dollar goes right to work.
Our 2022 Obliteride-funded researchers are harnessing the immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases. Learning how tumors start and spread. Developing new treatments and making those we have more personalized and effective. And pushing the limits of scientific discovery to improve and save lives.
Meet the researchers you support:
Learning how cells fix their broken DNA to understand cancer origins and inform new therapies.
Understanding our immune response to new and evolving viruses to improve treatments for current and emerging threats.
Developing therapies that optimize the cancer-fighting power of immune T cells while reducing side effects.
Studying how a type of bacteria leads to aggressive colorectal cancer to better prevent and treat it.
Improving screening by identifying genetic and other risk factors for prostate cancer in diverse populations.
Learning how immune T cells behave during and after treatment to improve immune-based therapies for children.
Refining blood stem cell transplantation and testing it to treat severe autoimmune diseases.
Researching mosquito- and tick-borne flaviviruses, including dengue and Zika, that threaten people worldwide.
Linking cellular changes to different prostate tumor pathologies to enhance diagnosis.
Illuminating the role of glia, which form one-half of our brain cells, in Alzheimer’s and autism.
Distilling complex genetic and environmental factors to better predict disease risk.
Uncovering how blood stem cells repopulate the bone marrow after radiation and transplant.
Improving stem cell transplantation and follow-up to catch relapse early.
Designing new immunotherapies that harness immune T cells to fight lung and skin cancers.
Harmonizing medical records and study data to recommend changes in disease diagnosis and public health measures.
About Fred Hutch
Leading-edge Science, Compassionate Care
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program. This unique relationship creates a powerful team for adults facing cancer. Fred Hutch unites comprehensive cancer care with advanced scientific research to provide the latest cancer treatment options and accelerate discoveries that prevent, treat and defeat cancer and infectious diseases worldwide. Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington and has earned a global reputation for discoveries in cancer, infectious disease and basic research, including important advances in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services and has network affiliations with hospitals in four states. Our work includes:
Sponsor Spotlight
Leaning In With Obliteride
Rajiv Chopra, a vice president of software development at Amazon, describes himself as “a do-er.” He also knows many people affected by cancer. So, when a coworker asked him to join Obliteride as an executive sponsor in 2019, he didn’t have to think long before accepting.
This year, with fellow Amazon executive sponsors Jon Jones, Maureen Lonergan, and David Zapolsky, Chopra stepped up to renew Amazon’s global sponsorship. Amazon and Amazon employees raised over $550,000 to fuel cancer care and research. “Cancer research is as worthy a cause as any, and one where I thought I could be more personally involved,” said Chopra.
Our Sponsors
FOUNDING SPONSOR
LEAD OUT SPONSOR
GLOBAL SPONSOR
CENTURY SPONSOR
BREAK AWAY SPONSORS
DYNAMO SPONSORS
CADENCE SPONSORS
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
AV Factory
Freestone Capital Management
GLY
Silver Creek Capital Management
SAFETY SPONSOR
Lease Crutcher Lewis
REST STOP SPONSORS
Affini-T Therapeutics
Prime Electric
TIAA
Turner Construction
UMC
CLINK SPONSORS
Alaska Airlines
Copiers Northwest
KEXP
Nintendo
PMI Worldwide
Thermo Fisher Scientific
IN-KIND DONORS
Elysian Brewing
QFC
Talking Rain