Each of us has a responsibility—and it only takes one of us to start that momentum, and then other people join in. There’s no better story, no better ending, no better possibility.
— Ms. Doretha Edgecomb
JOIN THE EDGECOMB EXPRESS
This year, the Edgecomb Express is lacing up for Miles for Moffitt and moving for what matters—love, hope, and a future without cancer health disparities. Every step and every dollar moves us closer to that future.
Sponsored by the George Edgecomb Society (GES) at Moffitt Cancer Center, the Edgecomb Express proudly honors our namesake, Judge George E. Edgecomb, whose compassion and commitment to equity continue to inspire our work today.
Please join our team or make a gift in Judge Edgecomb’s honor. Every dollar raised through the Edgecomb Express fuels research to reduce cancer health disparities and help ensure lifesaving care reaches the communities that need it most.
OUR HISTORY
Tampa native and Howard University School of Law graduate Judge George E. Edgecomb was a visionary who opened doors for future generations by becoming Hillsborough County’s first Black chief assistant county solicitor, assistant state attorney, and judge. His dedication to public service extended well beyond the courtroom through his leadership in organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, where he formed a lasting friendship with H. Lee Moffitt, and the Greater Tampa Urban League.
Tragically, Judge Edgecomb passed away from leukemia at just 33 years old. His legacy lives on through his wife, Ms. Doretha Edgecomb; his daughter, Ms. Allison Edgecomb; and all of us who carry forward his fight against the disease that took him far too soon.
OUR MISSION
Since 2018, the George Edgecomb Society (GES) has funded Moffitt Cancer Center research aimed squarely at understanding and reducing cancer disparities in the Black community, from prevention all the way through survivorship and end-of-life care.
GES impact, by the numbers
$1.6 million in research funding has been awarded since the program began.
21 studies funded out of 40 applications submitted, across 8 funding cycles.
11 different cancer types studied, including prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, ovarian, cervical, and colorectal cancer.
3 new studies funded in 2025 alone, at $100,000 each, the largest single-cycle investment in the program's history.
What GES funding is doing right now
Every dollar given to GES becomes real research, led by real Moffitt scientists, aimed at real problems. The most recent round of awards shows exactly what that looks like:
Closing the cervical cancer screening gap. Most cervical cancers in Florida are still caught at advanced stages. Dr. Shannon Christy is partnering with federally qualified health centers to bring HPV self-collection screening directly into underserved communities, a change that could catch cancer earlier and save lives.
Fighting prostate cancer where it hits hardest. Prostate cancer kills African American men at a higher rate than any other group. Dr. Kosj Yamoah is working with the VA to test how tumor samples from African American patients respond to new treatments, searching for therapies that are built around the patients who need them most.
Understanding a hidden pancreatic cancer risk. Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the country, and Non-Hispanic Black patients face higher rates of both diagnosis and death. Dr. Jennifer Permuth is studying blood markers that could identify who is at the highest risk of dangerous blood clots, work that could tell doctors exactly which patients need preventive treatment.
The George Edgecomb Scholar
We are proud to introduce our inaugural George Edgecomb Scholar: Dr. Tiffany Carson, Program Leader in Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Helping Black breast cancer survivors build healthier lives after treatment. Obesity and chronic stress raise the risk of cancer recurrence, and Black breast cancer survivors face both at higher rates. Dr. Carson leads Survivors RESET, a program helping these survivors build sustainable, healthier lifestyles after treatment ends. Her work has already earned national recognition, including a spot on a $25 million Cancer Grand Challenges team tackling cancer inequities worldwide.
Why this matters for Miles for Moffitt
Every dollar raised through this campaign fuels the pipeline that made these three studies possible, and the eighteen that came before them. This is not abstract research sitting in a lab. It is Moffitt faculty, funded by community support, working on the specific cancers and the specific communities that have been underserved for too long.
Over the past eight years, that support has turned into 21 studies. The next cycle opens in August 2026. What it funds next depends on what gets raised now.
RESOURCES
To learn more about the people behind the George Edgecomb Society, please explore the links below.
The Official Website of the George Edgecomb Society (GES)
The Creation of the George Edgecomb Society (Video)
George Edgecomb Society Banquet (Video)
Mr. William Gholston, GES Supporter (Video)
"Moffitt Shines a Light on Its Efforts to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities" (Article)
Mr. Lanse Scriven, GES Steering Committee Member, and Dr. Kosj Yamoah (Article & Video)
"Cancer in Our Community": Mr. Lanse Scriven and Dr. Kosj Yamoah (Article & Podcast)
"Cancer in Our Community": Ms. Valerie Goddard, GES Steering Committee Chair, and Dr. B. Lee Green (Podcast)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
