Final Breakaway Mile of 2010 Amgen Tour of California Crossed the Conejo Valley Finish Line
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The Breakaway Mile Similar to the support team that helps cyclists break away from the pack, it takes a strong support network to help a person break away from cancer. Celebrating cancer survivors everywhere, the Breakaway Mile takes place during the Amgen Tour of California, before the professional riders roll across the finish. It’s a special walk that crosses the finish line to honor the millions of cancer survivors worldwide, led by an individual who has been an inspiration within the local cancer community – the Breakaway from Cancer® Champion. The Breakaway Mile celebrates cancer survivors and their support networks and helps increase awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer. The event also celebrates the many scientific innovations that contribute to new treatments for cancer patients. During the Breakaway Mile, the Breakaway from Cancer Champion and an Amgen scientist who plays a crucial role in developing breakthrough medicines, are joined by community members – cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates – who support the fight against cancer. Read more about the Breakaway Miles in Bakersfield, Modesto, and Santa Cruz. |
Immediately after the professional cyclists started their first lap of the race, 150 cancer survivors and their loved ones walked the Breakaway Mile with cheers from the spectators.
Conejo Valley Breakaway from Cancer® Champion Steve Bartolucci led the Mile with special guest movie and TV actor Patrick Dempsey, whose mother is an ovarian cancer survivor.
Joe Miletich, senior vice president of research, walked with Steve during the Mile and told the crowd that they were all heroes for battling cancer and supporting those who are in the fight.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a tumor in his abdomen in May 2000, Steve began the fight for his future. Focused on his marriage and two young children (ages 13 and 11 at the time), Steve began chemotherapy treatments to treat the tumor. During his first chemo weekend, Steve discovered the Tour de France on television. He also read Lance Armstrong’s book “It’s Not About the Bike.” That weekend changed Steve’s life and he began cycling as a means of countering the effects of the chemo treatments.
The treatments were effective and by November 2002 Steve completed his first serious bike ride, the 65-mile Solvang Prelude. However, the lymphoma was never really eliminated and he experienced relapses in 2003 and 2005, requiring additional treatment.
During his fight, in 2003, Steve became a fund raiser and advocate for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and continues as a regional mentor for Team LiveSTRONG. He is also the leader of the LiveSTRONG Army of the Conejo Valley, and Steve participates in the annual Breakaway from Cancer ride in Thousand Oaks, as well as numerous other rides throughout the year.
Steve also had the honor of presenting Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey to Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) of Team RadioShack. The jersey is awarded to the rider who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer – courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination, and perseverance.
Click here to read the Ventura County Star article about Breakaway Mile and Steve’s story.
To learn more about Breakaway from Cancer, visit breakawayfromcancer.com or follow the latest news on the Breakaway from Cancer Facebook page.
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