Courage Ride Donates $75,000 to Sarcoma Research
The donation supports early-stage sarcoma studies at the University of Iowa's Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Cancer
Courage Ride presented a $75,000 donation to sarcoma research at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center on November 5. The gift is part of nearly $1.1 million the ride has contributed to the center's Sarcoma Research Program since 2005.
Why it matters
The funding accounts for about 85% of the university's sarcoma seed grant funding and helps researchers reach larger federal grants. Sarcoma is a rare cancer, making sustained early-stage funding especially significant for progress in Iowa City and beyond.
Sarcomas account for less than 1% of adult cancers and about 21% of childhood cancers, and they include more than 150 subtypes. Early seed grants from this program have helped researchers secure more than $10 million from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.
The players
Courage Ride
A cycling fundraiser founded in 2005 by Jackie and Tom Bailey of Riverside, Iowa, to support sarcoma research in memory of their son.
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of Iowa's NCI-designated cancer center, which runs the Sarcoma Research Program that receives the donations.
The details
Courage Ride was founded by Jackie and Tom Bailey of Riverside in memory of their son Seth, who died of sarcoma at age 25 after an eight-year battle. The 22nd annual ride drew about 350 cyclists to Iowa City in August, choosing from five routes ranging from about 18 to 100 miles, and the donations also support a sarcoma tissue bank.
Timeline
2005: Courage Ride held its first ride and began funding sarcoma research.
August 8, 2026: The 22nd annual Courage Ride was held in Iowa City.
November 5, 2026: The $75,000 donation was presented at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Big Picture
Seed grants from the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center's Sarcoma Research Program have historically served as a launch point for federal NIH and Department of Defense funding. This donation extends that model, which has now been supported by roughly $1.1 million from the Courage Ride since 2005.
Funding for early-stage sarcoma research may eventually lead to new diagnostic or treatment options for patients with this rare cancer. The sarcoma tissue bank supported by these donations also helps researchers study the disease more broadly.
The takeaway
Community fundraising can fill critical gaps for rare diseases that receive limited federal attention. Readers interested in supporting similar research can look for local cancer centers and disease-specific programs in their own region.
Further reading
Explore more cancer research coverage on how local philanthropy supports rare-disease studies in Iowa City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGAN.
