More than a ride

An inspiration in the Cycle for Survival community, cycle instructor Melanie Griffith is determined to beat rare cancers.

The energy at Cycle for Survival is electric — pedals spinning, music playing, and enthusiastic participants exchanging high fives, tears, and hugs. As the official rare cancer fundraising program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Cycle for Survival, together with its founding partner Equinox, unites tens of thousands of people at events across the country each year, along with passionate cycling instructors to lead the charge.

Among them is Melanie Griffith, a beloved cycling instructor known by many in the Cycle for Survival community for her strength, heart, and unstoppable spirit. Nineteen years ago, Melanie participated in her first Cycle for Survival event — and it changed her life. 

“Cycle for Survival is a force of inspiration and hope. At my first ride, I was fortunate to meet the movement’s founders, Jennifer Goodman Linn and Dave Linn. From then on, I knew I was in the company of the most amazing people,” Melanie says. “While different circumstances may have brought us here, we’re all fueled by the same passion: to beat rare cancers.” 

Melanie had no idea that just a few years later, she would face her own rare cancer diagnosis. In 2010, a year after becoming a SoulCycle instructor, Melanie was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. Following treatment at MSK, her doctors found no evidence of disease until 2019, when a tumor was discovered in her small intestine. Surgery and genetic testing revealed she also had Lynch syndrome, a hereditary chronic condition that increases her risk of developing cancer. Today, Melanie’s cancer is once again in remission, and she is routinely monitored at MSK to stay ahead of any issues that may arise in the future and ensure that any new cancer that develops is identified in its earliest, most treatable stage. 

“Through every challenge, the strength and resilience I’ve gained as a rider and an instructor, combined with the unwavering support of my loved ones and the Cycle for Survival community, has given me the power to face my cancer journey head-on and keep pushing forward,” Melanie says. 

Cycle for Survival’s extensive impact

Since the movement began in 2007, Cycle for Survival has raised more than $400 million for rare cancer research at MSK. Rare cancers — which include blood, brain, ovarian, pancreatic, and all pediatric cancers — receive less research funding from industry and government sources than more common types of the disease. Cycle for Survival fills this gap by directing 100% of every dollar raised to MSK scientists who are investigating rare cancers and pursuing innovative therapies to better treat them. 

Cycle for Survival has contributed to the development of at least six FDA-approved treatments for rare cancers as well as paved the way for diagnostic innovations like MSK-IMPACT®, MSK’s FDA-authorized tumor-sequencing test that looks for mutations in more than 500 cancer-associated genes. MSK-IMPACT can help match patients to the therapies or clinical trials that will most benefit them and detect inherited mutations, including those associated with Lynch syndrome. 

“The innovations funded through Cycle for Survival are extraordinary, and I’ve been fortunate to benefit from the research firsthand,” Melanie says. “I want to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life — and MSK’s life-changing research is helping to make that possible.” 

Looking ahead

Because of the exceptional care at MSK, Melanie is thriving. Today, she is a Master Instructor and the Senior Director of Brand Experience for SoulCycle, a proud wife and mother of three wonderful young adults, and a two-time cancer survivor. She remains committed to uplifting and empowering others through her continued work with Cycle for Survival.

“When we seek connection and come together at Cycle for Survival, magic happens,” Melanie says. “Studies are funded. Cures are found. Angels are honored. Our collective strength comes not just from physical endurance, but from the courage to keep going — no matter the odds.”