June 14, 2003 – On Saturday, June 14 at 7:00 a.m., a team of six cyclists will depart from Vancouver, B.C. on a journey that will end in Halifax, N.S. just 10 days later, a trip of 7200km (4500 mi.). This team, The Coast-to-Coast Against Cancer Team will attempt to accomplish this incredible goal by riding in rotating shifts in teams of three, with each cyclist pedaling 12-15 hours across 360 km (225 mi.) per day.
To celebrate their incredible journey, Hamilton 2003 and the Canadian Cycling Association have invited The Coast-to-Coast Against Cancer Team to take a victory lap at the Tim Hortons Road National Championships Road Race on Sunday, June 29, prior to the start of the Elite Men Road Race at 12:00 p.m. Hamilton 2003 would like to encourage everyone to support this team on its herculean task. For more information on how to make a donation and to follow the team's progress visit the official web site at www.coasttocoastride.com.
The team is spearheaded by Jeff Rushton and Kevin Wallace and includes Fredrik Carlberg, Scott Graham, Hamish Gordon and Jamie Layfield with Mitch Kennedy and Erik Jensen as Alternate Riders. To date, Coast-to-Coast against Cancer has raised over $335,000 in pledges and has set a goal of $500,000.
Coast-to-Coast Against Cancer was founded by Jeff Rushton in 2002 to commemorate his father's successful battle against cancer. An avid cyclist, Jeff established this annual cycling event as a means to raise awareness and funding for charities intent on supporting individuals and families dealing with this devastating disease. In January 2002, Jeff Rushton and his friend Kevin Wallace each rode 3200 miles (5100 km), coast to coast, from California to Florida in just 24 days raising over $175,000 for two cancer charities.
The organizations benefiting from the 2003 Coast-to-Coast Against Cancer Ride are Candlelighters Canada and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Candlelighters Canada is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children experiencing the effects of cancer. Through a national network of volunteers, it provides support and resources to families and promotes on-going cancer research, education and survivorship. www.candlelighters.ca.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), is charged with enhancing the quality of life for those living with, through and beyond cancer. The Foundation focuses its activities in the following areas; survivorship education and resources, community programs, national advocacy initiatives, and scientific and clinical research grants. www.laf.org.
The Road World Cycling Championships will be staged in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from October 6 to 12, 2003. Over 800 athletes from over 50 different countries will compete in ten different races. There are two disciplines – the individual time trial and the road race with five different classifications, elite men and women, junior men and women, as well as Under 23 men. It will be only the sixth time the Road World Championships have been held outside Europe and the second time in Canada, the first occasion was 1974 in Montreal. Preceding the Road World Championships will be the Tim Hortons Road National Championships from June 27 to 29, 2003. For more information, visit the official website, www.hamilton2003.com.