BellRinger

Huge shoutout to our amazing Rest Stop & Safety Partners who kept our Riders fueled and ready to take on their Rides ????♂??? Thank you CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Eisai US for powering our mission to end cancer with Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center!??????#GearUpEndCancer

Halfway through his 50-mile bike ride, Bryan Weselman (M’30, G’30) looked up. Dotted along the side of the road were signs. They had quotes like, “My dad taught me how to ride a bike. Today I am riding for him,” written by family members of people who had cancer. He began to tear up. He remembered why he was biking BellRinger, a ride to raise money for cancer research. “I started to think how fortunate I am to continue with my life, and there are a lot of people who aren’t that lucky,” he said. “I want people to have the same opportunity that I do to bounce back and have the sigh of relief that it’s over.” Just a few months earlier, Weselman had been a cancer patient himself. A year and a half into medical school at Georgetown, he was diagnosed with cancer. Weselman was pursuing his M.D./Ph.D. in the Tumor Biology program, and was a few months away from beginning the Ph.D. track of the dual degree program. While his classmates studied for an exam, he underwent chemotherapy at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He couldn’t play soccer or see friends as often as he used to. He had trouble focusing while studying. He was exhausted just walking around his house. “I was much more restricted than I thought I’d be,” he said. “I was isolated from a lot of people, which is a small price to pay, but small things I didn’t know.” Weselman had taken courses on cancer in medical school and worked in cancer research labs prior to coming to Georgetown. Medically, he knew what was happening to his body. He just didn’t know how it would feel. “I would watch my white blood cell counts fluctuate, and sometimes I thought it was cool,” he said. “Other times, it was frightening, because I know how few cells that is to have.” Weselman took time off for treatment, and when he finished, he studied at an expedited rate to stay on track. He passed the first of his medical boards, and in April 2024, began the Ph.D. track of his program alongside his classmates. https://bit.ly/40yoW7I

It’s go time! The 10 day countdown to BellRinger is on, and Norah O’Donnell, Anchor and Managing Editor of the CBS evening news, has a special message to the BellRinger Community as we gear up to Ride on October 26th! Thank you so much for your continued support of our mission to end cancer with Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center ?? ?? #GearUpEndCancer

We are thrilled to introduce the BellRinger Advisory Council, a core group of passionate leaders dedicated to serving as ambassadors for BellRinger throughout the Washington, DC region. These devoted people bring diverse expertise and a shared commitment to advancing our mission to end cancer with Georgetown Lombardi ?????? All 16 members of BellRinger Advisory Council are riding or volunteering their time in just 11 days in BellRinger 2024. Give them a warm welcome in the comments below! ?? Dan Herlihy, Ed “Eddie” Engles, George Longwell, Rhonda Ward, K.C. Haile, Michael Lopes, Kimberly Marsh, Jenna Dyson, Jeffrey Williamson, Mike Risk, Jeff Sadosky, Kristi Graves, Christopher Hamilton, Michael B. Atkins, MD, Louis M. Weiner, MD, and Ruth He, MD, PhD! #GearUpEndCancer

Health & Wellness is a policy priority at the Board of Trade because a health community is essential to promote and advance Greater Washington to be a vibrant, competitive, and prosperous region. Featured for our Regional Business Insight with WTOP News is a university member of the Board of Trade, Georgetown University, and its Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Doctors at Lombardi Cancer Center are working tirelessly to end cancer, and they need your help. Join the Georgetown community on October 26 for BellRinger, DC’s Bike Ride and Community Movement to End Cancer. Funds raised will go towards lifesaving cancer research. Thank you to our member, Fox Rothschild, for supporting our Regional Business Insight series. #GeorgetownUniversity #BellRinger #CancerCenter #FightCancer #CancerAwareness #Philanthropy #CancerResearch #EndCancer Georgetown University Medical Center Georgetown University School of Medicine

On October 13th, 2023, our colleague Craig Casterella Jr.’s life changed dramatically. With no family history or genetic warning, he was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Today, we’re proud to share that Craig is in remission, but his journey is far from over. This October, Craig will take on the BellRinger event in Washington, DC—cycling 100 miles to raise $5,000 for cancer research. Having battled cancer firsthand, completing this 100-mile ride is not only a testament to Craig's endurance and resilience but also a powerful statement of hope and perseverance. It’s a reminder that no matter how tough the journey, we must keep fighting and pushing forward every day. Whether through fundraising, sharing his story, or simply showing up—Craig is determined to make a tangible impact. His journey continues to inspire us all at American Christmas, and we proudly support his mission by donating $1,000 to his fundraiser, helping him get one step closer to his goal of $5,000. Let’s cheer Craig on as he rides not just for himself, but for all those who continue to fight. ??If you wish to support Craig and everyone else affected by cancer, donate to Craig’s ride here:?https://lnkd.in/eS9ypCBg Here, you can read more about Craig’s inspiring journey: https://lnkd.in/eYnUzs9D #CancerResearch #Bellringer2024 #Resilience #StrongerTogether

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Distinguished University Professor at Georgetown University has a special message encouraging everyone to join us for BellRinger on October 25-26!?? Thank you Dr. Fauci for your continuous support of the BellRinger Community and our mission of ending cancer with Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center ????????♂? #GearUpEndCancer

We are thrilled to announce Bridget Holmes as the next Executive Director of BellRinger!?????? With nearly 20 years of her career dedicated to making a difference through her work at Georgetown University through the Office of Advancement, Bridget is an entrepreneur, a community builder, and a seasoned leader. To read more about Bridget and her journey to BellRinger and her excitement to join our community in the fight against cancer, read more below! ????♂? https://lnkd.in/ecNNjDWc #GearUpEndCancer

ICYMI: Director of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Dr. Louis Weiner and BellRinger Fellow and rising second year medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine Ritu Amarnani represented BellRinger on WUSA-TV this past weekend to share more about the impact of our community and our collective mission to end cancer ?????? Check out the full segment below! ?? #GearUpEndCancer

Start the countdown?… We are officially 100 DAYS out from BellRinger 2024! On October 26th, thousands of Riders, volunteers, and supporters will come together in pursuit of our collective mission for a cancer free future. Your dedication fuels the groundbreaking work happening everyday at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and we’re just getting started. ?? If you haven’t registered yet for 2024, use code “100DAYS2024” at checkout to waive half of your registration fee — valid until Friday at 11:59PM! Head over to BellRinger.org to register! We can't wait to Ride with you!????♂? #GearUpEndCancer