South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Dolphins honor Jenkins, raise funds for cancer research
MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins Challenge Cancer, the Miami Dolphins’ marquee charity initiative, was always near and dear to the heart of team executive Jason Jenkins, the Dolphins’ senior vice president of communications and community affairs who died Aug. 27.
In the 13th year the Dolphins held the event that supports those affected by cancer, and the first one without Jenkins, many in the organization still made sure he was not only part of it Saturday on the Hard Rock Stadium campus, but a focal point.
As donations, which go directly to the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, piled in and participants gathered for cycling rides of various distances, Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel grabbed a microphone before his 15-mile route to announce he was dedicating his ride to Jenkins. Moments earlier, Garfinkel had tweeted a photo of Jenkins riding in a previous year’s DCC, with a caption, “Miss you.”
Jenkins, who was 47 when he died due to a blood clot, was beloved throughout the South Florida community for spearheading the Dolphins’ numerous community outreach initiatives — DCC prime among them.
Jenkins’ widow, Elizabeth Jenkins, took over as board chair of Dolphins Challenge Cancer for Jason Jenkins this year, leading meetings and establishing fundraising goals and initiatives to get more people involved. She did the event-long 100-mile ride that began before sunrise Saturday.
Brett Brecheisen, who worked under Jenkins as senior manager of football communications, completed his 55-mile ride in a purple tie, a symbol of how Jenkins was always a top-notch dresser while sporting what was believed to be his favorite color.
Several Dolphins participants — who ranged from team alumni like Zach Thomas, Nat Moore and O.J. McDuffie to coach Mike McDaniel to current players like Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, Christian Wilkins, Skylar Thompson and team employees — wore purple socks that read “Ride for Jason.”
“The inspiration, really, was my husband,” Elizabeth Jenkins said of taking on the pivotal role. “I originally wanted to just take on his ride, which I did not do enough research. I did not know he signed up for the 100, so that was sort of a shock.
“Tom Garfinkel came to me and sort of put it in my ear, ‘What would you think about being board chair this year?’... I thought about it a long time, and I was like, ‘I think this is a good thing. This is the right thing to do.’ So I accepted, and it’s been a phenomenal experience. It’s been healing.”
Added Garfinkel: “Anything we can do to honor Jason’s legacy. He was such a selfless leader, changed so many people’s lives that we want to continue that legacy in his honor.”
The Dolphins’ success Saturday and overall with the 2023 edition of the event surely would’ve made Jenkins proud.
While an official figure for how much money was raised for cancer research will be announced at a later date, Garfinkel announced a projected figure expected to surpass $10 million, crushing the 2022 record of $8.4 million raised. If expectations are met, the double-digit millions added to the $53 million raised over Dolphins Challenge Cancer’s first 12 years could put the event within reach of the $75 million commitment to Sylvester, the largest known philanthropic pledge in sports, by next year. Donations for this year can still be made at DolphinsChallengeCancer.com through March 14.
DCC also topped its 2022 record of about 4,400 participants, according to a Dolphins spokesperson, although an official number has not been announced. Participants had options of cycling either 100-, 55-, 35- or 15-mile bike rides and/or doing a 5-kilometer walk/run.
Phillips did the 100-mile ride again this year after also going the distance following his rookie season last year. Cancer awareness is a cause close to his heart as he has had two aunts, a grandfather and great aunt diagnosed with cancer.
“I’ve had a lot, personally, affected,” said Phillips, who was also the Dolphins’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. “Everybody knows somebody or has somebody personally who has gone through cancer. Just cancer fundraising, just raising awareness in general is incredible. That’s what this event’s all about.”
Phillips, a UM alum, also appreciates the philanthropic connection between his professional team and alma mater with the event.
Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson lost his mother and grandfather at an early age to cancer.
“I’ve learned to mourn through it and handle it,” said Thompson, who also raised funds for cancer research in college at Kansas State. “Instead of being bitter and being disappointed and hurt — I’m always going to be hurt — but I just found ways to celebrate them. Doing stuff like this, that’s the way I saw that.”
Not everyone participating Saturday was doing so because they were either a cancer survivor or lost a loved one.
“You hear the stories — survivors, somebody who lost a loved one — it’s just more motivation to get out here and fundraise. It’s a great experience,” said Thomas, the great Dolphins linebacker who was elected to the Hall of Fame earlier this month and shares the alma mater of Texas Tech with Jason Jenkins.
“I haven’t been directly affected by cancer, but I know that people around me have,” Holland said. “It’s important to show that you support them in all facets of life.”
Holland also enjoyed the opportunity to compete with teammates in Wilkins and running back Myles Gaskin, whom he said were talking smack before they all rode the 35-mile route. Holland began by treating it like a race but said, as fatigue kicked in, he settled on riding at his own pace.
Before walking the 5K, McDaniel provided a memorable moment for participants by offering a mock pep talk: “Are we ready to walk real fast? ... I can’t hear you. Are we ready to walk with a lot of intent, real fast?!”
In taking on the late Jenkins’ role with DCC, Elizabeth Jenkins didn’t want to just go through the motions. She strived to understand what doctors and researchers do, so she toured Sylvester leading up to the event.
“It’s amazing to see the tenacity and the endurance and spirit,” Jenkins said.
“This ride, everybody has a ‘why’ here. Everybody has a ‘why they’re doing this.’ Doing 100 miles is not easy, or doing 55 or 35 — any of those — they’re not easy. But they have that internal ‘why’ of why they’re pushing through, and that’s what makes DCC so special.”