Pelotonia, the ambitious new cycling tour founded by NetJets to benefit cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, now has the world’s highest profile cyclist joining its inaugural tour that will take place from August 28-30, 2009.
Pelotonia is proud to announce that Lance Armstrong will participate in its opening ceremony on Friday, August 28 and will cycle Pelotonia’s “century ride” from Columbus to Athens, Ohio on Saturday, August 29 following the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland August 24 through 26.
As the landmark event of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, the Summit will make the case for acting urgently to address the global cancer burden and introduce new commitments to cancer control by bringing together world leaders, corporations, non-governmental organizations and advocates in an unprecedented show of solidarity.
“The LIVESTRONG movement will take its Global Cancer Campaign to Ohio for Pelotonia 09 because we share the same goals. Pelotonia’s sole mission is to fund life-saving cancer research and that mission aligns perfectly with our efforts to support survivors all over the world and to make cancer a global priority,” confirmed Lance Armstrong. “NetJets’ creation and sponsorship of Pelotonia 09 will help raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer and promote the spirit of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign.”
“NetJets is pleased to join advocates around the world by making this commitment to join LIVESTRONG’s global fight against cancer,” said Daniel Rosenthal, Office of the Chairman, NetJets Inc. “Pelotonia is going to be an incredible experience for everyone involved and we are excited that Lance Armstrong will add to that experience by participating in Pelotonia’s inaugural weekend.”
“We are thrilled that Lance Armstrong will join our community for Pelotonia’s inaugural weekend this August,” said Thomas Lennox, Pelotonia’s Executive Director. “Lance returned to cycling in order to increase global awareness about cancer, and Pelotonia will help him further that mission while also raising the funds necessary to support the high quality research performed every day at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
One hundred percent of the donations raised by Pelotonia and its riders will benefit groundbreaking cancer research performed at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James).
“We have enjoyed an ongoing partnership with Lance Armstrong and the Lance Armstrong Foundation,” said Michael Caligiuri, MD, CEO of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and Director of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We were one of the cities selected last year for Lance’s national tour on LIVESTRONG Day, and we hosted the LIVESTRONG Summit last July. We’re one of eight cancer centers in the nation to be part of the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network. His participation in Pelotonia 09 is yet another example of his commitment and partnership with Ohio State. We are delighted that he has chosen to participate in this event and help promote groundbreaking research in our cancer program.”
Registration for both riders and volunteers is currently open at www.pelotonia.org. Registered riders may choose from three scenic routes of 50 miles, 100 miles or 180 miles, all of which have been designed to appeal to cyclists of varying experience levels. President of The Ohio State University E. Gordon Gee, Dr. Michael Caligiuri, and NetJets executive Daniel Rosenthal have all registered to ride.
On the afternoon of Friday, August 28, Pelotonia’s festivities will begin with a celebration at Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio. The kick-off will include rider registration, expositions and an opening ceremony.
On the morning of Saturday, August 29, riders on all three routes will clip in at Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio and travel southeast toward Athens, Ohio. Pelotonia will support all of its riders along all of its routes with food and beverages as well as medical and mechanical assistance. Water stops will be located in or around Groveport, Amanda, Sugar Grove, and Nelsonville, Ohio.
Those riders who choose the one-day, 50-mile route will end their tour with a finale on Saturday near Sugar Grove, Ohio, while those who choose the one-day, 100-mile route will end their tour on Saturday with a festival at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Those riders who choose the two-day, 180-mile route will finish their first day’s tour with the festival at Ohio University where they will also spend the night. On Sunday, August 30, the two-day riders will ride back toward Columbus, ending their tour with a celebration near Canal Winchester, Ohio.
In order to participate in Pelotonia, a rider commits to a fundraising minimum that corresponds with his or her chosen route. Two-day, 180-mile cyclists must raise at least $2,000. One-day cyclists riding 100 miles must raise at least $1,500, while one-day cyclists riding 50 miles must raise at least $1,000. Pelotonia will donate every dollar raised by every rider to the OSUCCC-James.
