Press Release
Bike Virginia 2014 Tour to Feature Cycle 4 Massey Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, June 22: A Portion of Special Event Registration to Support Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Research
May 1, 2014 (Richmond VA) – The Bike Virginia Tour is pleased to announce a new partnership with the VCU Massey Cancer Center to raise awareness of cancer detection, treatment, and research. Bike Virginia will proudly hold “Cycle 4 Massey” Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, June 22, 2014.
The Bike Virginia Tour is an annual cycling event of 27 years featuring about 1,600 cyclists for six days of touring the beautiful and historic communities of Virginia. One day the 2014 tour will be dedicated to cancer awareness and supporting treatment and research. On that day all participants will be asked to wear yellow in support of cancer awareness and education. Twenty percent of special “Cycle 4 Massey” registrations on June 22 will be donated to VCU Massey Cancer Center for cancer treatment, detection, and research.
“Cycle 4 Massey” Day on June 22 will offer participants the opportunity to cycle on one of the Bike Virginia routes of 26, 49, or 79 miles starting and returning to Pocahontas State Park. Special registrations for the day will be handled through Bike Virginia’s Cycle4Massey registration page.
The tour is based at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia for Friday, June 20 through Monday, June 23 and returning there on Wednesday, June 25. For the second portion of the tour, base camp will be located at Chickahominy Riverfront Park near Williamsburg.
Bike Virginia’s staff worked with Massey Cancer Center to create an opportunity to talk about exercise as a cancer preventative and to talk about treatment and research.
Over the course of the last 27 years the event has been focused on a mission of improving cycling and helping Virginia thrive in a variety of ways because of cycling. The organization has raised funds for biking advocacy and for the inclusion of bicycling in communities through infrastructure and events. That mission has evolved over time and is now adding a new kind of conversation about healthy lifestyles to its message.
“I feel strongly that partnering the Bike Virginia organization with a leader in healthcare was the right thing to do. It’s a great fit for our mission. We knew the time was here for us to include more outreach about the power of cycling for fighting diseases like obesity and cancer. What better tool to encourage exercise and wellness with than a bicycle?” said Dr. Kim Perry, Executive Director of Bike Virginia.
Lauren Kiger, Assistant Director of Development Events, described the opportunity that Bike Virginia brings to Massey as twofold. “Massey currently treats patients from every city and county in Virginia; however, Massey is just now starting to expand our public awareness throughout the state, so having an organization like Bike Virginia help spread Massey’s mission is a fantastic way to steward the supporters, both in and outside of the Central Virginia region and grow recognition for the unique programs and services Massey offers.”
VCU Massey Cancer Center has partnered with the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN’S for nine years with more than 1,000 runners each year accepting the Massey Challenge to raise friends and funds to support Massey’s mission. The 10k brings more than 40,000 people to Richmond each year. Lauren said, “Through Bike Virginia, we have our first opportunity to grow our friends and fundraising to a new activity in cycling as well as venture out to other parts of Virginia.”
The cancer center supports active living and physical activities like cycling. The doctors and scientists there know that 1 in 7 cancers is preventable with a healthy lifestyle, so partnering with events that promote activity no matter of age or ability is important. “Massey is proud to partner with Bike Virginia,” said Ashley Driscoll, member of Massey Alliance Executive Board.
The tour is a program of Bike Virginia, a 501(C)(3) non-profit that provides educational programs and grants, and works to improve bicycling in Virginia for better transportation, health and the environment. For more information on the partnership visit bikevirginia.org/massey
For more information contact us by email or phone.