Badger Challenge registration opens, event moves to UW Health Eastpark Medical Center

MADISON, Wis. — The Badger Challenge — a walking, running and biking event held every September to support groundbreaking cancer research and treatment initiatives at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center – is now open for participant registration.

This year, the event will be Sept. 21 at a new location: UW Health Eastpark Medical Center.

Eastpark Medical Center opened in October 2024, and it is the latest facility where the Carbone Cancer Center is serving patients.

“We are thrilled to bring the Badger Challenge to Eastpark Medical Center,” said Deric Wheeler, professor of human oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and co-founder of the Badger Challenge. “At Eastpark, patients are receiving cutting-edge cancer treatments and have access to the latest clinical trials, which perfectly aligns with the mission of Badger Challenge.”

Eastpark is also home to upright proton therapy, the most accurate and innovative form of radiation treatment available for cancer therapy. Proton therapy is expected to begin at UW Health in early 2026.

The Badger Challenge has grown to nearly 3,500 participants annually, raising more than $4.7 million to date to advance cancer research. Every participant-raised dollar goes directly to research initiatives, funding innovative approaches in surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, personalized medicine and more.

To date, the Badger Challenge has supported more than 70 Badger Challenge scholars, research programs, professors and clinical initiatives, driving discoveries into cures for every type of cancer at Carbone.

Participants can learn more, donate, register and form teams at badgerchallenge.org.