The Amgen Tour of California, an annual world-class cycling event now in its third year, kicks off in Palo Alto, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 17, and concludes in Pasadena, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 24. During the race, 17 of the world’s best professional cycling teams will battle it out over a demanding 650-mile route across many of California’s most scenic highways, roadways and coastlines.
“Amgen is excited to return for a third year as the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California,” said Jim Daly, senior vice president, North America Commercial Operations at Amgen. “We look forward to another great race week and the opportunity to again lead the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative to increase awareness of the support and educational resources available to help people living with cancer.”
The event is open to the public and tickets are not necessary to view the race. Each finish city will host a free race-day festival, featuring a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food, entertainment and more. Amgen is hosting a festival tent, showcasing the company’s pioneering science and promoting its Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative. Also, the Exploratorium, a popular San Francisco science museum, will host traveling exhibits and demonstrations within the festival, funded by a grant from Amgen. More information on festival activities can be found on the Amgen Tour of California website.
To follow the race, fans and enthusiasts will be able to tune in via nightly television broadcast updates on the VERSUS network and online at the Amgen Tour of California website. Other programming available on the race’s official website includes a tour of Amgen’s Thousand Oaks campus conducted by cycling announcer Dave Towle and a spot to raise awareness of the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative, featuring cancer survivor Gail Crawford.
Breakaway from Cancer™
Amgen created the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California. Designed to help empower people affected by cancer, the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative supports the services of two nonprofit organizations – The Wellness Community (TWC), an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope to people affected by cancer, and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), the oldest survivor-led cancer advocacy organization in the country.
To learn more about the Breakaway from Cancer effort and to get involved, visit http://www.breakawayfromcancer.com/.
“Breakaway Miles”
Similar to professional cycling where it takes a solid support team to help a rider breakaway from the pack, it takes a strong support network to help a person breakaway from cancer. In honor of cancer survivors everywhere, Amgen created the Breakaway Mile – a 1-mile bike ride that takes place at the finish line of the Amgen Tour of California, prior to the stage conclusion of the professional race. In 2008, Breakaway Miles will take place in four race host cities: Santa Rosa, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and Santa Clarita. Each Breakaway Mile will feature a local cancer survivor riding together with family members, friends and care providers who have supported them through their battle with cancer, and an Amgen scientist who plays a crucial role in developing breakthrough medicines.
