AKTIV Against Cancer Awards dinner

October 28th, 2025

-

7 - 9pm ET

-

NYAC 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

-

October 28th, 2025 - 7 - 9pm ET - NYAC 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019 -

RESERVE TICKETS

DONATE

AbOUT THE AWARDS

Since 2015, AKTIV Against Cancer has hosted the AKTIV Against Cancer Award in an effort to continuously honor the legacy of our co-founder, the late Grete Waitz. Mary Wittenberg, Global CEO of Virgin Sport, received the inaugural award in 2015 and running legend Meb Keflezighi in 2016, respectively, as leaders who demonstrate great philanthropic efforts using health and fitness as a platform; a belief that was instrumental to Grete and at the core of AKTIV’s mission.

In 2017, AKTIV Against Cancer honored The Rudin Family for their long-standing commitment to the TCS New York City Marathon and also recognized professional runner, the late Gabriele Grunewald, for her commitment to continue running through her cancer and inspiring many to be physical active through treatments. In 2018, we honored Olympic Champion and cancer survivor Kikkan Randall and Dr. Jordan Metzl. Chip Gaines, Jeff Rochford & Aubrey Barr received the award in 2019 with Shannon Miller in 2020, respectively. David Linn, co-founder of Cycle for Survival won the award in 2021 for his work making Cycle For Survival Memorial Sloan Kettering’s largest fundraiser of the year.

In 2022, we honored adidas for our partnership with them that has raised $13,600,000 since 2009. That same year, we recognized olympic athlete Chaunté Lowe with the Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award for her inspirational journey as a breast cancer survivor and exercise oncology advocate. In 2023, we bestowed the AKTIV Against Cancer Award upon New York Runners, who since its inception in 2006, the TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program has raised more than $460 million for over 1,000 worthy non-profit organizations across the globe. That same yea, we recognized the Exercise Oncology Team at Memorial Sloan Kettering with Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award. Without the vision of the Exercise Oncology team at MSK, leadership and education the value of exercise as a vital part of cancer recovery may never have been realized.

In 2024, our 10th annual AKTIV award dinner, we were privileged to bestow the AKTIV Against Cancer Award to James Blake and the James Blake Foundation. Who has long been dedicated to raising awareness and funding for cancer research. AKTIV Against Cancer was proud to bestow the Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award to Team Casper Ruud. Their passion, commitment, and dedication to supporting AKTIV Against Cancer throughout its journey have been truly inspiring.

Our 2025 AKTIV Against Cancer Award went out to Peter Kirk - husband, father, cancer survivor, CEO of Sermo, and founder of the charitable organization Be Your Possible. He has committed to running 1,000 half marathons by the 10th anniversary of his blood stem cell transplant to raise $1,000,000 for research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center while creating a movement to inspire others to live up to their greatest potential - whatever that may be. The 2025 Gabe Grunewald Inspiration Award was bestowed upon Ethan Zohn - former professional soccer player, cancer survivor, and Survivor: Africa winner. Publicly sharing his cancer journey, Ethan became a global ambassador for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, StandUp2Cancer, AKTIV Against Cancer, and EO Care, using his story to champion research, patient-centered wellness, and survivorship. Ethan continued to embody resilience, dribbling a soccer ball around the hospital for exercise and even completing the New York City and Boston Marathons, raising funds for Grassroot Soccer (GRS)—the global adolescent health organization he co-founded using his Survivor winnings. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Abby Labar, 2x Emmy-nominated sports host, reporter, and media personality.