Social Fundraising

CCI Immunotherapy Research Fund

Fundraising goal $500,000.00

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Recent donations (155 donations)

Name	Amount
Lauren Harshman & Mark Davis	$250.00
Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	$15000.00
Pavel Svoboda	$26.58
Ms. Amy Burroughs
Oliver Zill / ImmuneBridge	$200.00


Recent donations

Pacific Crest Trail Thru Hiking Adventure

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) extends 2658 miles from Campo on the southern California border with Mexico to Manning Park, British Columbia in Canada.

PCT Thru Hiking Adventure to Support Cellular Immunotherapy Research

In 2023 and 2024 I thru hiked the 2658 mile Pacific Crest Trail with my husband, Gib Biddle, to commemorate and support advances in cellular immunotherapy research. In order to pursue this life long dream, I retired from a full time career in cancer research, drug development and an academic clinical hematology practice. Over the past 25+ years, I have had the honor and privilege of working with collaborators, including Carl June and Bruce Levine at the University of Pennsylvania, on cutting edge research in cellular immunotherapy. This research has resulted in FDA approval of multiple chimeric antigen receptor modified CAR T cell (CAR T) therapies for advanced blood cancers with truly breakthrough results, including cures, in refractory leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The promise of this field of "living drugs" that can redirect the exquisite and targeted power of the human immune system to engage and kill cancer cells is immense. After 25 years of dedicated and iterative research, the field of cellular immunotherapy is now at the tipping point, with potential applications across a spectrum of serious human diseases, well beyond cancer. By sponsoring our PCT adventure, you will be supporting cutting edge research by young women physicians and scientists working on the next generation of cellular immunotherapies, led by Carl June and Bruce Levine, the true pioneers of this breakthrough field. Now that I have successfully completed this grand adventure, I am sharing leadership (and life) lessons learned from hiking the PCT to continue my fundraising drive and reach my goal of raising $500,000.

Supporting the Early Research Careers of Women

We need leaders in cancer research and development who are representative of the full spectrum of patients we treat. While women enter medical and scientific fields at equal numbers to men, women are still under represented in leadership roles across academia and the biopharma industry. Women need opportunities, financial and emotional support, sponsorship and mentorship to embark on, persist in and thrive in science and medicine. Funds raised from my PCT adventure are focused on supporting career advancement and leadership skills development of early career women physicians and scientists, with prioritization given to those from underserved minority groups, as they embark on their own research journeys in the Center for Cellular Immunotherapy at Penn. The inaugural class of grant recipients participated in a 4-day leadership skills development backpacking retreat in the California High Sierra in August of 2024, an annual event that will be supported by this fundraiser.

Why the Pacific Crest Trail?

The PCT is a 2658-mile wilderness trail that starts near the town of Campo on the Mexican border in California and traverses the southern Californian desert with its mountainous "islands in the sky", climbs and descends the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains in central California, extends north through Mt Lassen and the Trinity Alps, and then traverses the Cascade mountain ranges of Oregon and Washington, culminating 8 miles across the Canadian border in Manning Park, British Columbia. Walking the length of this trail is a formidable challenge, but then again, so is cancer research.

After losing my mother to multiple sclerosis while I was in high school and my father to gastro-esophageal cancer during my first year of medical school, I embarked on a solo bicycle adventure down the Pacific Coast highway from Washington to southern California in 1984. The solitude, natural beauty and physical challenge was a tonic for my soul, allowing me to heal and move beyond the pain and loss of being an orphan as I embarked on my medical education and future profession. As I stepped back from my full time career in science and medicine, it seemed fitting to turn around and walk back along the crest of the western mountains from Mexico to Canada and reflect on the progress we have made in cancer immunotherapy research and the great opportunities that lay ahead. I invite you to sponsor this thru hiking adventure and seminars on leadership lessons from the trail. All money raised will support the research of early career women within the Center for Cellular Immunotherapy at Penn.

PCT Fun Facts and Fundraising Goals

I hope to raise at least $500,000 to support early career women physicians and scientists as they embark on their research journeys within the Center for Cellular Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania. This fundraiser combines many of my passions: wilderness adventure, cellular immunotherapy research and advancing the careers of the next generation of female physicians and scientists. A $2658 donation represents 1 dollar per mile; a $26.58 donation represents 1 penny per mile - give what you can.

If you are interested in learning more about our PCT adventure, Endpoint News has published a series of 6 personal essays that I wrote from the trail and is also promoting this fundraiser. I also posted numerous trail stories on instagram (@kristen.hege). In addition, you can read my husband's PCT blog on substack (https://gibsonbiddlepct.substack.com/p/coming-soon) .

If you prefer to donate through a donor advise fund, the EIN for University of Pennsylvania is: Legal Name: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania; Employee Identification #: 23-1352685.

if you prefer to send a check, please mail to the address below and direct it to the CCI Fund. If sending a check, please contact Mike Krystopolski at U Penn and we will work to ensure it is allocated to this fund, and that the donation is accounted for on this fundraising page.

For checks, mail to/attention:

Michael J. Krystopolski
Director of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations
Penn Medicine Development & Alumni Relations
3535 Market Street, Suite 750
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309

Checks made payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Please include a memo line in honor of Kristen Hege's PCT Fundraiser.

For all question regarding donations, please contact:
Elizabeth Watkins
ewatki@upenn.edu

PCT Total Distance = 2658 miles
Elevation Gain = 420,880 feet
Permits Granted = 50/day from March to May
High Sierra snowfall this winter = 646 inches
PCT Hikers: 42% are women, 22% are over age 50, 15% hike with a spouse or partner, 13% are non-white, 3% have PhDs, 1% have MDs, 14% finish

1 dollar/mile = $2658
1 penny/mile = $26.58
CART approvals: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma
No. of cellular immunotherapies in development: 100's
100% of your donation is tax-deductible

Donation messages

Thank you for your career in biotech research and creating more opportunities for women in research. --Pavel Svoboda

Thanks for your support of great science and great women in science Kristen! --Ms. Amy Burroughs

Thank you for your work and for the inspiration! --Oliver Zill / ImmuneBridge

What an inspiration the two of you are for completing this hike! Great to see you supporting such a meaningful cause as well. --Jeanine & Preston Smalley

Inspiring! --Mr. Douglas Crawford

GO LADY SCIENTISTS! --Ms. Catherine Sierra

Inspiring. The Wasserfam is all about empowering the next gen of women scientific leaders. --Samantha and Scott Wasserman

Kristen - Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful essays, your pioneering work in biotech, and establishing a fund to pay it forward! Julie Urvater --Julie Urvater

Very inspiring and for a fantastic cause! Thanks for sharing and letting us experience it vicariously! --Tim Lowinger

Well Done, Kristen! --Mark Gilbert

What comes around goes around. Thanks for sharing your good KarMMa with us on the PCT and in your home. See ya out there somewhere. --Salty and Frito

This is in memory of Olivier Gouedard who worked tirelessly through his own bout with cancer. It was a crowning life accomplishment for him. --Scott Tegethoff and Olivier Gouedard

Best wishes for a safe and fulfilling finish to your journey, Kristen! --Tim Campbell

Good luck on the rest of the hike Kristen --Third Rock Ventures

Good luck! --Patrick Hanley

Supporting this amazing effort. --HireMinds - Biotech Recruiting Team (BOS/SF)

Have a great hike. Thank you for all that you're doing. My favorite part of the JMT is Marie Lake before Muir Trail ranch. That's a gorgeous part of the hike. --Dr. Donmienne Leung

Thanks Kristen for this enlightening series and your inspiring adventure. --Tamir Halaban

KarMMa - It was great to meet you in Tehachapi. I have enjoyed your PCT blog so much. Thank you for your work on empowering women in science and immunotherapy. All the best to you both in the months ahead! Georgette Theotig, Tehachapi, CA --Ms. Georgette Theotig

Kristen and Gib: Wishing you good weather and safe paths on your trek north. Kristen, thanks for everything you do to support the next generation of investigators and for making strides in support of patients battling life-threatening diseases. As I sit in the hospital where your parents practiced, I know they are very proud of you and everything you do! Bernie & Lori --Bernie & Lori Fox

Proud of the progress you have made to date Kristen and the inspiration you are providing to others. Good luck with the rest of the hike and look forward to celebrating with you at the end. --Garry Menzel

Thank you !!! --Ms. Lindsay Flood

Good luck to a trailblazer who has led I/O and breakthrough cancer therapy development, benefitting countless patients. Best wishes in your trek, Kristen. --Wende Hutton

To support the professional development of women in science --Ken & Erika Drazan

Belated birthday gift donation! --Paul O

Love it. Thanks for inspiring the rest of us. Every day. --Mike Tonneson

Excellent! --Mark Sherman and Jennifer Daves

Go, Kristen! What a meaningful effort. --Kimberly Whitefield

Best wishes as you continue your travels!! --Eric

Good luck to you on your trek! What a great cause - we are glad to contribute and support! --Lynn Hartung & Shay Clayton

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lagarry@upenn.edu | Leigh Anne Garry, Director of Business Process Integration and Technology Training | 215.746.8840
2929 Walnut Street, Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19104 | Superuser