Chris Baccash: A Brain Cancer Survivor Who Is Cycling to Make a Difference
Chris Baccash, a native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, once dedicated his life to competitive cycling. As a founding member of the elite Doylestown Bike Works pro team, he spent years training, racing, and pushing his limits.
In September 2019, he reached a major milestone, completing the 50-mile Bucks County Classic with his personal best result. But just months later, everything changed.
After experiencing auditory hallucinations and a seizure, Baccash was diagnosed with diffuse astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer. Though cancer forced him to step away from competition, it did not take away his spirit. With determination, Baccash returned to cycling, completing the demanding Leadville Trail 100 MTB race in 2021.
But his perspective had shifted. Cycling was no longer just about individual achievement. It became about making an impact.
That’s why on August 30, 2026, Baccash will ride in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic Charity (PCC) Ride for AACR, a community-powered event that directly supports AACR’s mission to accelerate progress against cancer.
A Full-circle Moment
As a competitive cyclist, Baccash used to dream about racing in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic one day. Established in 1985, this race is known to attract some of the best cyclists from around the world to compete along a 14.4-mile loop through Philadelphia.
But that dream became a little different following his cancer diagnosis. Baccash was treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania by a care team that included Robert Lustig, MD, and Donald M. O’Rourke, MD. Over the course of three years, he had to undergo three surgeries, seven weeks of daily proton radiation, and a year of oral chemotherapy.
His diagnosis and treatment not only caused Baccash to put a pause on competitive cycling but also reevaluate what mattered to him in life. He had been working as a business analytics manager but decided to go back to school to get his masters in applied positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania so he could pursue a life dedicated to helping others.
He graduated in May 2022 just a few blocks away from where he had his surgeries, and he completed his chemotherapy regimen about a year later. Now, he teaches high school math and is an administrator at New Hope Academy, an independent school in Bucks County, which offers individualized education programs for middle and high school students facing complex academic and mental health challenges.
Baccash also applied this new lease on life to his passion for cycling, which has become another way he can help others through fundraising. So, when it was announced that the Philadelphia Cycling Classic would return this year after a 10-year hiatus, he knew he wanted to participate—not in the race, but the PCC Charity Ride for AACR that precedes it.
From the Road to Research
The PCC Charity Ride for AACR takes place early in the morning before the professional Philadelphia Cycling Classic race along the same 14.4-mile loop through Philadelphia. Riders start on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, weave along the Schuylkill River, take on the daunting Manayunk Wall, enjoy a brief journey through Roxborough, go through Strawberry Mansion, and tackle Lemon Hill before ending back where they began.
For Baccash, the charity ride represents an opportunity to live out his dream while transforming gratitude into action.
“Without world-class treatments, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to ride a bike at all,” he said. “This is my chance to give back and help others facing cancer.”
Donations from the PCC Charity Ride for AACR will go toward supporting AACR’s unparalleled role in advancing cancer science. For decades, AACR has brought together the brightest minds in research with more than 65,000 members across 143 countries, funded groundbreaking discoveries with $551 million in grants awarded to more than 3,400 scientists since 1993, and driven innovations that are changing how cancer is prevented, detected, and treated.
Baccash’s own care team included two AACR members, and while he is beyond grateful for the care he received from them, he sees this charity ride as his chance to help contribute to the future of cancer treatment.
For example, at Penn, where Baccash was treated, physician-scientists are continuously working to translate discoveries into real-world treatments for patients. In 2025, AACR awarded more than $1 million in research funding to investigators there, an investment that underscores the critical role of philanthropic support through platforms like the Philadelphia Cycling Classic in advancing lifesaving science.
Among the leaders driving this work is Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, FAACR, director of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and AACR President-Elect for 2026-2027. A globally recognized pioneer in cancer immunotherapy, Vonderheide has witnessed AACR’s commitment to both collaboration and innovation.
“For more than a century, AACR has demonstrated that collaboration is one of the most powerful drivers of progress,” said Vonderheide. “The Philadelphia Cycling Classic reflects that same commitment to moving forward together. Every breakthrough in cancer research is the result of countless individuals working toward a common destination, and events such as this help raise awareness of the discoveries, partnerships, and shared determination that continue to advance better outcomes for patients around the world.”
Baccash views the PCC Charity Ride for AACR as more than a cycling event. It is a catalyst for progress.
In the past, Baccash rode to push his own limits. Now he rides to help push the limits of what is possible in the fight against cancer.
Sign up to ride in the PCC Charity Ride for AACR or donate to a participant or team.
