Thousands of individuals gathered at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, February 24th, to commemorate and partake in the 14th installment of the Dolphins Challenge Cancer fundraiser.
In addition to the 5k walk/run, this year’s event introduced new ride distances, including a 13-mile Dan Marino ride, a 39-mile Larry Csonka ride, a 54-mile Zach Thomas ride, and a 99-mile Jason Taylor ride, all named in honor of Miami Dolphins players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Thomas, who was present at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, participated in what has become the largest philanthropic pledge in the NFL.
“It’s heartwarming to be among all these survivors, all these fighters,” he remarked. “I was here in 2010 with Jim ‘Mad Dog’ Mandich for the first year. Witnessing the growth of the DCC into a massive event is incredible. And then to have a ride named after your number, it’s fantastic. It’s a tremendous honor.”
After attracting a record number of participants last year, the DCC has raised over $64 million for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in the first 13 years of the event. This figure is expected to rise once all donations for DCC XIV have been collected.
One current Dolphins player who has played a crucial role in sustaining the DCC’s success is linebacker Jaelan Phillips.
“The South Florida community has embraced me since I arrived here, and I feel it’s my duty to use my platform to give back to the community,” Phillips stated.
During the 2021 season, Phillips became the first rookie in franchise history to win the team’s Nat Moore Community Service Award. Now, three years later, he serves as a DCC board member and a vocal ambassador for the event.
“I feel a connection with DCC because I’ve had many family members and loved ones affected by cancer,” Phillips said. “It’s such an important cause, raising funds for cancer research. I’m grateful and honored to spread some love and encourage others to do the same.”
Linebacker David Long Jr. was also among the 15 Dolphins players present on Saturday and completed the 54-mile ride. Along the way, he had the opportunity to bond with his current teammates as well as Thomas.
“We rode together for a while,” Long said of his time with his Hall-of-Fame positionmate. “We talked about football, life, and biking. He’s already a biker, so it was cool.”
But Long wasn’t just there for the competition. He rode in honor of his aunt, Corrie Gooden-Long, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on the day he graduated high school in 2015.
“She was one of my closest family members,” he said. “I did it for her and for many others like her with similar stories.”
Tight end Julian Hill also recognized the impact of the DCC and completed the 5k in support of a cause that has touched so many lives.
“It’s an amazing thing,” Hill said. “It was an honor to participate. When you realize that it’s bigger than football and what we do on the field, that’s when you realize the impact you have on people and the impact they have on us to keep going, to keep using our platform for good.”
The DCC’s goal is to improve people’s lives through financial support for innovative cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer, part of the University of Miami Health System. One hundred percent of participant-raised funds go directly to Sylvester to fund life-saving research. In November 2020, Miami Dolphins leadership pledged to raise $75 million for cancer research through the DCC, marking the largest-known philanthropic pledge in sports.
Donations for DCC XIV are still being accepted through March 14. You can make a donation today at DCC.DonorDrive.com.
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