Survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma turned his passion for cycling into an annual charity ride to support innovative clinical trials at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Having contributed $1.4 million over the past decade to research efforts at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the Century for the Cure charity bike ride is gearing up for another successful year.

ride poster

Registration is now open for this year’s September 20 event, and organizers are hoping to raise $300,000. A variety of course options are available including 100-mile, 62-mile and 40-mile treks, which begin and end at Camp Riverbend in Warren Township.

“We ride for family. We ride for friends. We ride because we can,” says ride founder Scott Glickman. A cycling enthusiast, Glickman rode in a high-profile event in Massachusetts for years until he was sidelined briefly from this passion. It was in the late 1990s when he was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and wasn’t sure if he would ever ride again. But after being successfully treated at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Glickman was back on two wheels and dedicated his efforts to making resources available that would further unlock the mysteries of cancer. 

“Finding new and innovative therapies for cancer is critical.  By supporting today’s research through Century for the Cure, we are ensuring tomorrow’s treatments,” Glickman said. 

Century for the Cure in part supports innovative clinical trials led by Roger Strair, chief of Hematologic Malignancies/Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at the Cancer Institute and Glickman’s oncologist.  “Funds from Century for the Cure have helped us conduct unique early-stage studies in leukemia, lymphomas and kidney cancer.  We have been able to leverage that support to receive additional resources to take some of these trials to the next level.  Thanks to the continued efforts of Scott and Aileen Glickman, we are able to further our research,” noted Strair, who is also a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.  Century for the Cure also has supported grants for scientific investigators to further explore varied blood cancers.

Scott Glickman
Scott Glickman has helped raise $1.4 million over the past decade for the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University

“The first event in 2005 saw only 13 riders. Now hundreds strong, we have traveled some 87,000 miles over the past decade," Glickman says. "The $1.4 million raised as a result is an amazing testament to how the collective dedication to this event is truly making a difference. My wife Aileen and I are extremely proud that Century for the Cure continues to have a positive impact on the lives of patients.”

Century for the Cure sees hundreds of riders, dozens of volunteers and numerous “virtual participants” – those who choose to support the event through online giving.  To register for this year’s Century for the Cure or to learn how you can help, visit http://www.centuryforthecure.com/.


For inquiries, contact Michele Fisher at michele.fisher@rutgers.edu or 732-235-9872.