PeloBreasties Takeover at PSNY: 30 min HIIT & Hills Ride Hosted by Jess King

The PeloBreasties filled a Peloton studio on October 23 for Jess King’s 30 min HIIT & Hills Ride, turning a Friday morning class into a celebration of survival during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The group is made up of breast cancer survivors, caregivers and supporters, and the PeloBreasties raised funds for The Breasties before the ride took place.

About the PeloBreasties

The PeloBreasties began with Amy Lynn Valentine (#amylynn_spins), who had a genetic predisposition to breast cancer and underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy in 2020. She got her Peloton Bike the same year and was already familiar with The Breasties, a nonprofit community for people impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers. She created the #PeloBreasties tag to find other women in a similar situation who also had a bike. The tag grew into a Facebook group and is now an active Instagram DM thread.

Michelle Jones (#jones2mk) organized the studio takeover again this year, her third after two successful takeovers in previous years. The group raised funds for The Breasties before the ride, and proceeds will go to the larger Breasties x Reclaim October campaign.

Members who attended ordered tank tops in advance to wear to class. The front carried the PeloBreasties logo. The back carried a quote from Jess: “Your strength is not measured by what you can do, but by what you can overcome.”

A PeloBreasties Studio Takeover Built on Preparation

Jess King is a longtime Peloton cycling instructor known for her theme rides, Sweat Steady series and music-driven classes. For this class, she arrived ready. She wore a strapless bra over her sports bra, designed with women’s hands with long red nails grabbing her breasts, a playful nod to the day’s focus on breast health.

The playlist was curated for breast cancer survivors. It opened with “Alive” by Sia, followed by “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain and “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera. Later selections included “THE BADDEST (BADDER)” by Joey Valence & Brae featuring Ayesha Erotica, “I Run For Life” by Melissa Etheridge, “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls and “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara.

As a PeloBreastie member and breast cancer survivor, I was lucky enough to be in the studio for the ride and the advance preparation showed. Jess spoke throughout the class with motivation, validation, encouragement and kindness, and her words felt specific to the people in the room. Given how full her schedule is, the effort stood out.

In clips she posted to Instagram on October 26, Jess said the group was celebrating life, survival and the friendships and community that form during difficult moments. While “I Touch Myself” played, she delivered a reminder: check, feel, go to the doctor, get your scans and advocate for yourself. She also told members their communities and families are lucky to have them.

As “THE BADDEST (BADDER)” played, members rose out of the saddle and sang the lyrics back to her. Jess closed by thanking the group for fighting and showing up to celebrate a story of survival, adding that she was honored to know the PeloBreasties.

Emma Lovewell Recognizes Survivors in a Low Impact Ride

Takeovers are not the only way Peloton instructors recognize survivorship. On October 18, Emma Lovewell paused during her 30 min Low Impact Ride to give a shout out to two members in the studio, Linda and Erin. Emma was visibly emotional as she spoke.

Emma shared that Linda was diagnosed in 2024 and is now cancer free, while Erin continues her battle with Linda and her community beside her. “Healing is better with a village,” Emma said. She described the two women as moms and friends who reflect what the Peloton community represents: showing up for each other on and off the leaderboard, sometimes riding before a chemo session.

Emma closed the moment by telling them she was proud and thankful they were in her class. “Your strength and courage is the heart of Peloton,” she said, adding that the whole community was riding with them and cheering them on. Watch the full clip on Instagram.

How Breast Cancer Awareness Month Began

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in October 1985 as a week-long effort, created through a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries, now part of AstraZeneca. The observance has since grown into a month-long campaign centered on education, early detection and research funding, and the pink ribbon became its best-known symbol.

Some people in the breast cancer community say pink branding can overshadow those most directly affected. That concern helped inspire Reclaim October, a campaign that puts survivors and people living with the disease at the front of the conversation.

What The Breasties and Reclaim October Support

The Breasties is a nonprofit that builds community for survivors, previvors, thrivers and caregivers impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers. It was co-founded by Paige More, Leslie Almiron, Brianna Majsiak and Allie Brudner. Reclaim October began as a group effort in 2020 to give power back to those impacted by breast cancer. Founder Trish Michelle, who is also Chief Community Officer of The Breasties, leads it.

According to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, The Breasties donates 100% of funds raised through Reclaim October to metastatic breast cancer research at Magee-Womens Research Institute. Proceeds from the PeloBreasties fundraiser supported that campaign.

Leanne Hainsby Alldis and Peloton Awareness

Breast cancer awareness has a history within the Peloton community, largely because of instructor Leanne Hainsby Alldis. Leanne was diagnosed in 2022 and shared her diagnosis publicly in January 2023, and she continued teaching through chemotherapy. As a survivor, she has promoted early detection, including through a Breast Cancer Awareness Collection with Peloton Apparel that benefited the UK charity CoppaFeel!. The Clip Out also covered her one-year milestone since beginning treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month ends October 31, but the message from the studio carries past the calendar. For the PeloBreasties, the ride was a chance to celebrate survival together, and Jess’s reminder is one any member can act on: check, feel, go to the doctor, get your scans and advocate for yourself.

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