September 17, 2010 (Calgary, AB) – Miss Canada 2009 and three Olympians will embark on the First Annual Ride for Red, a 4,000 km bike tour from Calgary, AB to Santa Monica, CA in support of the Canadian and American Red Cross organizations, on September 26. The team of four riders has a fundraising goal of 1 million dollars for each organization, which will be raised through tour events and daily stops, as well as a major online presence.

Shannon Lynn (Miss Canada 2009, Miss North America 2010), Christina Smith (2002 Canadian Olympic Bobsleigh Team), Billy Schuffenhauer (2002, 2006, 2010 U.S. Olympic Bobsleigh Team), and Brock Kreitzburg’s (2006U.S. Olympic Bobsleigh Team) ride will take 40 days with 33 days of riding and 7 PR/rest days. The full-time squad of four riders will be joined along the way by various other riders, including 20 celebrities.

The team will stop in major cities on the following dates:
– Calgary, AB – September 23 – Kick Off Gala, September 26 – Departure
– Vancouver, BC – October 6 – arrival, October 7, 8 PR days
– Victoria, BC – October 9 – PR day, October 10 – Departure (Vancouver)
– Seattle, WA – October 11 – arrival, October 12 – PR day, 13 – Departure
– Portland, OR – October 15 – arrival, October 16 – PR day, 17 – Departure
– San Francisco, CA – October 27 – arrival, October 28 – PR day
– Santa Monica, CA (Los Angeles) – November 4 – arrival, November 5 – PR day, November 6 – Gala

The team is passionate about giving back to the community, helping others, and supports the Red Cross’s initiatives. Follow the team’s training and ride progress online at www.therideforred.com – donations may be made online.