Contact:
Jason Merrill
314-286-0302
[email protected]
ST. LOUIS - More than a thousand cyclists are expected to participate in the second annual “Pedal the Cause” Sunday, October 2, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, for a bike challenge benefiting cancer research at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine as well as St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
The two-day event will kick off at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 1 with an evening celebration for everyone involved. Riders, sponsors, and volunteers can enjoy live entertainment, dinner and drinks at Soldier’s Memorial. The event will be an opportunity for all participants whose lives have been affected by cancer to learn about developing research from physicians with Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital as well as listen to inspiring testimonials from cancer survivors.
On Sunday, October 2, the St. Louis community is invited to support the thousands of cyclists participating in the Pedal the Cause fundraising bike challenge event. The ride will begin at 7:00 a.m., with riders in the shorter course crossing the starting line at 8:00 a.m. The event features three routes, 25, 50, and 75 miles, which begin and end near Soldier’s Memorial, at 1315 Chestnut Street near the Gateway Arch. Along the routes, cyclists will enjoy some of St. Louis’ finest attractions such as Busch Stadium, Washington University and Forest Park. There will be strategically placed water stops for spectators and cyclists including one on the Washington University Medical Center campus in the Central West End.
“We feel strongly that cancer can be cured if we all work together as a community,” says Bill Koman, cancer survivor and founder of Pedal the Cause. “St. Louis has world class facilities and hospitals for cancer research, and it’s our intent to support their efforts in every way possible.” One hundred percent of the proceeds will stay in St. Louis to fund life-saving cancer research through the Cancer Frontier Fund, an initiative of Barnes-Jewish Foundation that benefits the Siteman Cancer Center, and Children’s Discovery Institute at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Pedal the Cause flourished in its first year. More than 800 riders and 300 volunteers came together on October 9, 2010 to ride and support St. Louis cancer research. Pedal the Cause's first cycling event raised more than $910,000.
To register for the cycling event or sign up as a volunteer, visit www.pedalthecause.org.