Over the last two years, Riders, volunteers, donors, and supporters have banded together with Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center to raise over $2.9 million motivated by our collective desire to end cancer. You’ve proven that when united, we can positively impact the future of cancer research.
BellRinger’s dedication to ending cancer has catalyzed a movement. Since January, we have been searching for a new Executive Director to lead the BellRinger community to new heights, one who brings a newfound determination and vision to grow our mission to what we all know it can be.
It is my pleasure to introduce Tony Covington as BellRinger’s new Executive Director. We are excited for Tony to lead the BellRinger team in expanding upon our long term goals and setting the foundation for success for years to come. Tony will join us on April 15, 2024.
A 1990 graduate of the University of Virginia, Tony began his athletic career as an NFL defensive back, playing for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks. His journey into nonprofits started with the American Stroke Association, where he played a pivotal role in the Train To End Stroke pilot program. Since then, he’s led the charge in raising over $30 million during his tenure at the NAACP. Through his work at BellRinger, he aspires to change the outcome of every patient diagnosed with cancer, as his deep rooted connections to the cause have allowed him to fully embrace the work being done every single day.
Soon after accepting the offer to work alongside the BellRinger community, Tony shared the following message:
“I dream of a world where my daughters don’t have to fear a cancer that took the grandmother that they never had a chance to meet or the cancer that created an 18-year cancer survivor in their mother. Cancer is not going to cure itself, and I believe that the BellRinger Community, inclusive of everyday people like you and me, is the torch that will light the path to the research that will find a cure.
“I am a big believer in the power of storytelling — and this community has thousands to tell. By getting on a bike and riding 25, 50 or 100 miles every October, you have the opportunity to save lives and to expose the broader community to the continued impact and importance of the work happening each and every day at Georgetown Lombardi. Achieving a cancer free future is in reach, but we can’t do it without your support.
“Losing my mom at age 47 to cancer changed my life, and seeing the mother of my children go through a similar diagnosis but coming out on the other side proves that it’s working. The hours our researchers spend in the lab are ones that will help keep our loved ones alive. The impact of this work is underscored by every dollar raised through BellRinger’s efforts. We will continue to be ambitious, to lead with grit, and to band together against a disease that has taken so much from all of us.”
On behalf of the entire team at BellRinger, Georgetown Lombardi, and Georgetown University, I extend gratitude to Chris Timko for growing BellRinger from an idea to a reality. Chris will continue to support our team as he and his wife move home to Columbus, Ohio.
Chris shares, “BellRinger has been the single most important effort I’ve undertaken in my career because of the urgency of our mission. I am honored to pass the torch to Tony’s incredibly capable hands. I’d like to congratulate him on his extraordinary track record of success and officially welcome him to the BellRinger community. I’d also like to thank Dr. Lou Weiner, Dr. Mike Atkins, all of the Lombardi researchers, and the BellRinger team for believing in what we can achieve together. The future of BellRinger is bright and our best days are ahead of us. ”
Our aspirations have never been stronger to reach the day where cancer no longer exists. I cannot wait to Ride with you all this fall.
