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Since the first Closer to Free Ride in 2011, our riders, volunteers, sponsors and supporters have generated more than $19 million for the life-saving and life-changing work of Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.

Thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as Bank of America, we are also proud to say that one hundred percent of the funds raised by Closer to Free riders and volunteers directly supports research and patient care at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. Over the past ten years, the Closer to Free Ride funds have benefitted programs and initiatives including:

 

Survivorship

The Closer to Free Fund provides funding to our Survivorship Clinic at Smilow Cancer Hospital, which is available to all cancer survivors.  The Survivorship Clinic is the first dedicated, multidisciplinary resource for cancer survivors in the State of Connecticut to provide patients and their families with vital information on cancer prevention, wellness, supportive services and the latest health research related to cancer survivorship. The Survivorship Clinic provides dedicated support services for cancer survivors with a focus on the prevention, detection and treatment of complications resulting from cancer treatment. These services include:

  • Personalized wellness education and follow-up planning
  • Psychosocial support for survivors and their families
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Exercise and fitness recommendations

Phase I Clinical Trials

The Phase I Clinical Trial Program at Yale Cancer Center evaluates new treatments and new combinations of therapies for patients whose cancer has not responded to standard treatment. The new therapies tested in clinical trials offer these patients another option as well as hope. The support from Closer to Free expands the number of Phase I trials we can make available to our patients, bringing more possible treatment options to cancer patients everywhere. In addition, this past September, funds from the Ride supported the opening of a new Phase I Clinical Trial Infusion Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. This center houses specialty-trained staff and dedicated infusion areas designed to support patients and their families through their clinical trial experience.  It is the only such center in Connecticut.

Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program

The funding from Closer to Free helps to provide genetic counseling support to patients at high-risk of developing cancer. The Smilow Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program is composed of an interdisciplinary team that includes geneticists, genetic counselors, physicians and nurses that work together with the goal of providing cancer risk assessment and working to prevent the development of hereditary cancers. Patients considered at risk for a familial or hereditary cancer receive genetic counseling and testing so informed medical decisions can be based on their own personal risk assessment.  These interventions can have a huge impact on a person’s life by allowing them to better manage their health and reduce their risk of ever developing cancer.

Specific cancer programs also made possible by the Closer to Free Ride include:

For additional information about Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, please review our About Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center content or go to https://www.ynhh.org/smilow or www.yalecancercenter.org