Dr. Michael Teitell, Director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCLA JCCC), will be hiking the 211 miles of the John Muir Trail to raise money for cancer research at the UCLA JCCC -- and hopes that you will sponsor his hike with a tax-deductible gift.

Hiking the trail has long been a goal of Mike and his brother, Steve, and they decided to do it, at last, as Steve recently retired from being a high school math teacher. Moreover, they will be hiking in honor of their mom, Phyllis, whose battle against cancer has shaped their lives in endless ways, from Mike's choice of career as a cancer researcher to grabbing life's moments.

Phyllis passed away from cancer at 57 years of age. As Mike and Steve, and their sister Susan, wished for "one more holiday", "one more birthday"; he has set a fundraising goal of $58,000.

A Teitell family friend is starting with a personal commitment of $21,100 or $100 a mile! So, $36,900 to go for the Hike with Mike Against Cancer.

During the three-week hike that starts in late August, all donors will receive photos of Mike's hike and impressions of the stunning trail, cell service willing, and then a special email after the completion of the hike.

If you wish to support "Hike with Mike" from a Donor Advised Funds (DAF), please look for "Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation" or "UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation" as the recipient, and note that the gift is for "Hike with Mike." If you need assistance, please email RJ DiCamillo at rdicamillo@mednet.ucla.edu

UCLA Health is ranked #I in cancer care in both Los Angeles and California, and # 4 in the nation, according to a recent issue of the U.S. News & World Report. Since 2014 alone, basic science and clinical studies conducted at the UCLA JCCC have led to the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of eighteen new cancer treatments. This remarkable achievement includes therapies for melanoma and lymphoma as well as cancer of the breast, lung, liver and prostate. Often, discoveries made in one cancer type speed progress against a variety of malignancies.

Your generosity helps us continue our mission to fund vital cancer research and to support patients and families facing this difficult diagnosis. Thank you for your commitment.

Hike with Mike Against Cancer

Support Cancer Research with Dr. Mike Teitell as he hikes the John Muir Trail