Jaelan Phillips seeks support for Dolphins Challenge Cancer, ‘a great cause'
MIAMI GARDENS — Jaelan Phillips takes the “challenge” part of the Dolphins Challenge Cancer seriously.
Phillips signed up for the 100-mile cycling ride last year, an idea that didn’t seem plausible to those close to him.
“It’s a great cause but it was also a little bit of a challenge for me,” Phillips said Tuesday. “When I told my girlfriend and my parents and stuff like that I was going to do it, they were like, ‘No way you can do 100 miles. You’ve never ridden a bike like that before.’ So I was like, ‘All right, watch me.’ So yeah, it’s definitely intense.”
Phillips does more than ride. He’s again serving on the board for the 14th edition of the fundraiser, scheduled for Feb. 24. Registration opened Tuesday. Elizabeth Jenkins, wife of late Dolphins senior vice president Jason Jenkins, also is on the board.
The event funds research for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the UHealth system. Phillips is from the University of Miami.
The Dolphins made a $75 million pledge to the DCC in 2020 and already have raised $64 million from the previous 13 events. The 2023 event attracted 5,641 participants and raised more than $10.5 million — both records.
More: Zach Thomas, Kevin Mawae: How epic rivals formed Hall of Fame bond for the ages
With Zach Thomas entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, the 2024 DCC is taking on a Hall of Fame flavor. The rides will include a 54-mile event (to match Thomas’ jersey number), plus a 13-mile in honor of Dan Marino and a 99-miler for Jason Taylor.
“All of us have either been affected directly or have had a loved one, someone they know, affected by cancer,” Phillips said. “ … A lot of fun things happening. A lot of money going to a great cause.”
For more information, including how to register, visit the DCC site at dolphins.donordrive.com.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter @gunnerhal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jaelan Phillips seeks entries for 14th annual Dolphins Challenge Cancer
