June 5, 2007 (Toronto, ON) – Seven days, 4,800 kilometres, 24 hours a day. That’s what Christopher Bolton and Sam Babe are about to endure in the most gruelling race of their life.

Race Across America, also known as RAAM, is an ultra-endurance bicycle race across the U.S. that began in 1982. Known as Team SKRAAM (Sick Kids Race Across America), Christopher and Sam will be participating in the race this year for the first time.

The duo is determined to raise awareness and $250,000 for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (aka Sick Kids). Why? Christopher lost a brother to a pediatric form of cancer called Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Sam was diagnosed with the same disease at age 24, beating it thanks to treatment developed at Sick Kids in the decades since Christopher’s brother was a Sick Kids’ patient. Christopher and Sam are taking this journey to help other children with serious illnesses benefit from Sick Kids research and treatment.

Christopher Bolton, co-producer, writer and star of the hit series Rent-A-Goalie and Sam Babe, cancer survivor and Toronto lawyer with Aird & Berlis LLP, met last year while riding in the 2006 Tour For Kids, a four-day, 800 kilometre charitable bike ride that raises funds for camps for children with cancer. It was during that experience that these two realized there was even more they could do to help children who suffer from terrible diseases of all kinds, including cancer.

The race and their journey will be recorded daily by a film crew and they will be posting comments on their blogs at www.skraam.com.