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Tonic joined Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn yesterday to help raise $2.2 million for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the annual Cycle for Survival event in New York City.

The event, started in 2007 by cancer patient Jennifer Goodman Linn, raises money for rare forms of cancer — defined by the National Institutes of Health as any cancer that effects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Taken altogether, “rare” seems an odd choice of words, since more than half of all cancers fall into this category, including brain cancer, cervical cancer and all forms of pediatric cancer.

Zohn, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year, attended the event against doctors’ orders (sort of) — since he has been told to avoid large crowds while his immune system recovers from recent treatment — but we admire his tenacity in representing the cause. He took some time to talk with Tonic afterward, telling us why Cycle for Survival is such a great way to support cancer research:

“Anyone can ride a stationary bike, so it’s a perfect way to have fun, get some exercise and help those with cancer,” he says.

While Team Tonic could only muster seven riders, “[Team Ethan] had the full eight,” he told us. “We didn’t concentrate on fundraising until the last minute, but managed to raise close to 2K.”

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Ethan Zohn is home. He’s in his own bed. And he couldn’t be happier.

The Survivor: Africa winner, who has been battling a rare form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma for nearly a year, checked out of Memorial Sloan-Kettering hospital in Manhattan on Jan. 10 — a full 20 days after he checked in for a stem-cell transplant.
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Still, in a note chronicling his days in isolation, which he posted to a website for his friends and family, Zohn showed that he kept up his always-competitive spirit. While prepping for the transplant, he noted, he set a record: “the most urine collected in a 24 hour period. 13.5 liters. Thank you very much. Previous record for the hospital was 10.4 liters,” he wrote.

On New Year’s Eve, his white blood cell count hit zero. “I officially have no immune system,” he wrote. “Zero. So strange.”

By January 3, he wrote, “Pain is at an absolute high. I’m numb to the world. Struggling to find a balance between pain, consciousness and death.”

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Zohn will remain in near-isolation at his apartment for the next few weeks. With a weakened immune system, he’ll need to be extremely germ-conscious. But after a nearly year-long struggle, that part will likely seem easy.

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As Zohn undergoes a complete stem-cell transplant, Morasca reports, “He’s doing okay. We’re getting toward the end and we’re hoping to go home [from the hospital] this week, but then he’s still going to be on kind of a watch and in isolation for three months so we’re going to take it day by day but in my opinion he is cancer free.”

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Next time you think you don’t have the time or energy to chip in and help out a great cause, consider the case of Ethan Zohn: He’s focused on raising money for cancer research even as he sits in a hospital bed, actively fighting the disease that attacked his body.

Read the full article and watch the video message from Ethan.

My New Year’s resolution is to get everyone involved with Cycle For Survival. Founded in 2007 by patient Jennifer Goodman Linn, Cycle for Survival is the indoor team cycling fundraiser that has raised more than $2 million in support of research on rare cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

Team up with friends, family, and coworkers to ride at one of two New York City Equinox locations or the new Chicago event at Equinox. Or, you can register your satellite team and ride any time you like, anywhere in the world. You’ll have fun, you’ll be inspired, and above all, you’ll support vital research, bringing hope to people battling
this deadly disease.

I filmed a very personal and moving video to help spread the news. Please take a minute to check it out.

I will have a team at the NYC event if anyone is interested in riding.

With the eyes of the global soccer community fixed on Khayelitsha, South Africa, the December 5 Football for Hope Centre opening was prime opportunity for debuting Grassroot Soccer’s exciting new programming concept and communications initiative for 2010, the Red Card campaign. On the eve of the World Cup in South Africa, the campaign endeavors to make the infamous symbol for poor behavior on the pitch a powerful, unifying signifier for zero tolerance for the risky behaviors that lead to HIV.

As part of Grassroot Soccer’s HIV prevention curriculum, the Red Card is a reaffirmation of the organization’s commitment to finding new ways to connect with young people and combat the spread of HIV. During the activity “Risk Field,” which was demonstrated at the Football for Hope Centre opening for an audience of soccer and political dignitaries, the local community, and international press, the Red Card reinforced the theme of the activity — knowing and averting the leading risk factors for HIV transmission, like multiple partners and cross-generational sex. Each time a cone representing a risk factor was dribbled into, the Red Card was shown and the participant did a push-up. While fun and engaging, the Red Card and an activity like Risk Field are proven and powerful tools for driving home the severity of the threat of HIV. In the early phases of the campaign, Grassroot Soccer will integrate the Red Card into other curriculum activities focused on both boys and girls.

As Grassroot Soccer co-founder and Managing Director Kirk Friedrich explains, “With all the great events happening in South Africa, I can’t imagine a better time to mobilize the nation behind the Red Card as a means to inspire dialogue and discussion about this difficult topic. We believe the Red Card can become an enduring symbol of the fight against HIV and help change behaviors and save lives.”

As a communications platform, the campaign is a call to the like-minded to join in Grassroot Soccer’s goal to educate 1 million youth through its programming by 2014. As an organization whose impact on over 300,000 lives in 13 African countries is owed to partnerships and collaboration, Grassroot Soccer will open up the campaign to key strategic partners in order to expand the campaign’s reach and impact. Through such collaborations, the Red Card will be increasingly visible as the World Cup 2010 draws nearer.

Please join me in supporting Cycle for Survival, the indoor cycling event that funds cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In the past three years Cycle for Survival has raised more than $2 million, funding lifesaving research and clinical trials that bring new progress – and new hope – to millions, like me, who are affected by cancer. Check out the Web site at www.cycleforsurvival.org to get details about how to join the ride against cancer and support this great cause!