Navy Captain Raises $10,000 in Lymphoma Research Ride

After being diagnosed with follicular lymphoma earlier this year, Navy Captain Jeanmarie Patnaude-Jonston decided to participate in this year's 7th Annual Research Ride hosted by the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF). The event took place on Sept. 22 in Maryland, and more than 300 cyclists participated.

Leading up to the ride, Patnaude-Jonston — an Alexandria resident — raised $10,000 for LRF, exceeding her original goal of $7,000. Before taking the ride in September, Patnaude-Jonston said there was no way she would fail in beating this diagnosis and raising awareness.

"There isn't any failure in my DNA. The only thing we can do is to get people signed up for trial treatments and figure out how to make it work for each individual patient," she said.

LRF hosts and sponsors the Lymphoma Research Ride each year. This year, the event raised more than $455,000. In the seven years that the event has been organized, it has raised almost $3 million, according to a recent news release from LRF.

“Year after year, the Lymphoma Research Ride is a successful and fun event for the Foundation, raising vital funds for lymphoma research to find better treatment options for patients,” said Elizabeth Thompson, CEO of LRF. “The Ride has become one of our most celebrated fundraising events thanks to the commitment of Dr. Bruce and Christine Cheson, participants, volunteers and the fearless organizing committee who dedicate countless hours to raising funds and increasing awareness.”

Patnaude-Jonston is one of 500,000 currently living with follicular lymphoma. In her letter to friends, colleagues and family asking for their support and donations for her one-man riding team, Jonston said because of advances in medical research, her chances of beating the disease are better than ever.

Read more about Patnaude-Jonston and her fight against lymphoma.

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