Cycle for Survival Kicks Off Fundraising with New York City Takeover

Involved in the technological side of the financial industry for more than a decade, Keyvan Azami works as the chief technology officer for HSBC in New York City. When not in the office, Keyvan Azami supports several events that raise funds for cancer research, including Cycle for Survival.

As part of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cycle for Survival began in 2007 and raises money for research into rare cancers. Participants join a team and ride a stationary bike for four 50-minute cycling sessions. All the money raised by the events goes toward cancer research. Since the first event, Cycle for Survival has raised more than $180 million for research and funded more than 100 research studies and clinical trials. 

In 2017, Cycle for Survival raised $34 million thanks to 31,000 riders, 7,000 bikes, and 16 cities. On September 27, 2017, almost 1,000 riders kicked off the eleventh year of supporting the organization with a New York City takeover. The daylong event had participants riding and dancing in the center of Times Square with the help of Equinox instructors.

A Brief Biography of American Novelist David Baldacci

Since 2014, Keyvan Azami has served as the head of fixed-income derivatives trading technology at Bloomberg LP in New York City. In his free time, Keyvan Azami enjoys playing soccer and tennis, listening to music, and reading. He lists David Baldacci among his favorite authors. 

Born in Virginia in 1960, David Baldacci is a best-selling novelist who practiced law for nine years before publishing his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. The book was very well received and went on to spawn a feature film starring Clint Eastwood. 

Since writing Absolute Power, Baldacci has published 32 novels for adults and six novels for young readers. In addition to writing novels, he has produced several screenplays and served as a contributing editor for Parade magazine. His next novel will hit bookstores in early 2017. 

Outside of his work as a writer, Baldacci is a dedicated philanthropist who has helped raise money for various organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy, and the Wish You Well Foundation. He has also served as a National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Light the Night Walk-- What is It and How to Get Involved

Currently serving as head of FI derivatives trading technology at Bloomberg LP in New York City, Keyvan Azami has more than 14 years of experience in investment banking front office technology. Keyvan Azami is also a supporter of several charities, including the Cycle for Survival event for rare blood cancers and the annual charity walk Light the Night.

The Light the Night Walk is a fundraising campaign that directly supports The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and its mission of funding research into blood cancer cures. The walk is held in more than 200 communities across North America and each participant raises an average of $250 through the event.

Participating in the event is easy and participants can register as individuals or as part of a team. Prospective participants should visit www.lightthenight.org/what to learn more about the walk and complete registration. After registration, walkers should begin fundraising by reaching out to friends, family, and their community to raise money and awareness of the event. Finally, the last step is the walk itself. Light the Night walks are held throughout the year; visit the website to find when a walk is happening near you.

The 2016 New York City Cycle for Survival at the Metropolitan Pavilion

Since 2014, Keyvan Azami has served as head of fixed income derivatives trading technology at Bloomberg, LP, located in New York City. Away from his work overseeing the Bloomberg Swap Execution Facility (SEF) exchange, Keyvan Azami actively supports cancer research and participates in various fundraising events, such as the Cycle for Survival.

Cofounded by Dave and Jennifer Lynn in 2007, the Cycle for Survival has raised more than $76 million to benefit research for rare forms of cancer, including ovarian cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. The annual ride occurs nationwide in February and March in partnership with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Equinox, the event’s founding partner. Participants form teams, lead online fundraising campaigns, and unite at an indoor cycling studio in a relay of four 50-minute lengths.

Interested New York City residents may join the next Cycle for Survival on February 26, 2016, at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street. For registration information and a list of cities and dates, visit www.cycleforsurvival.org.