AKTIV Against Cancer Award & Gabe Grunewald Inspirational Award

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.

2025 AWARD CEREMONY

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Peter Kirk and Ethan Zohn - 2025

Peter Kirk is a husband, father, cancer survivor, CEO of Sermo and founder of the charitable organization Be Your Possible. Under Peter’s leadership over the past 25 years, Sermo has been turning physician experience, expertise, and observations into actionable business insights that benefit pharmaceutical companies, healthcare partners, and the medical community at large. Through Be Your Possible, Peter hosts the annual Run for Research event attracting thousands of HCPs and others globally to hit the ground running to unlock money for medical advancement. Since its inception, Run for Research has donated $1M+ to more than 50 medical research organizations. Peter has also 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.

At 35, the fit, active former professional soccer player and Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn became the unlikely face of cancer when diagnosed not once, but twice, with CD20+ Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Over several years, Ethan endured aggressive treatments, including two stem cell transplants, confronting the fears and uncertainties that come with a life-threatening diagnosis. Yet, he never lost his optimism, humor, or spirit. Instead, Ethan turned his personal battle into a mission to help others navigating cancer, transforming hardship into a platform for advocacy, education, and hope. 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. His lived experience highlighted the importance of scientific advancements and integrative care, including exercise oncology, movement, and plant-based wellness, in helping patients not just survive, but thrive. While undergoing treatment, Ethan continued to embody resilience, dribbling a soccer ball around the hospital for exercise and even completingthe New York City and Boston Marathons, raising funds for Grassroot Soccer (GRS)—the global adolescent health organization he co-founded using his Survivor winnings. Since its founding, GRS has reached over 25 million youth in 65 countries, using the power of soccer to educate and inspire young people to live healthier lives, including around HIV/AIDS prevention and health empowerment.