Riders compete to wear the yellow jersey on Ride with Lance

Forty cyclists raising funds for Cedars Cancer Institute

Montreal – Cedars Cancer Institute announced today that the rider who raises the most funds will wear the coveted Yellow Jersey during the once in a lifetime Ride with Lance Armstrong on September 12th.

“Relatives of cancer survivors, physicians and cyclists have entered into a friendly competition to raise the $25,000 minimum donation and beyond,” explained Louise Courey Nadeau, who has joined with avid cyclists Leonard Schlemm and Roger Beauchemin as co-chair of this unique fundraising event. “Montrealers can support these worthy champions by logging onto www.cedars.ca and making a donation in support of the rider of their choice.”

The cyclists will take the breathtaking 100km ride with Lance Armstrong through the Laurentians together, but each are following different paths to get there. Some of the riders in Ride with Lance include:

• Michelle Paiement, a competitive cyclist, who is riding in honour of her father, Pierre, one of the longest standing members of the Beaconsfield Cycling Club and a founding member of the nationally-recognized VCOM racing team who succumbed to cancer in August 2007 after a brave two-year battle.
• Dan Quance, anaesthesiologist and passionate cyclist. He is well known in the Montreal cycling community who have rallied behind his ride for the cause. Dan will be riding in memory of his beloved wife of 28 years, Laurel Milne Quance, who died peacefully in her home on August 18th with her family by her side following a 13 year battle with cancer.
• Gene Piccoli, who is the husband of a cancer survivor and founder of the 401 Bike Challenge, an exciting annual cycling event which takes riders on the route from Toronto to Montreal and raises funds for Cedars’ Sarah Cook Fund for pediatric oncology.
• Dr David Fleiszer, surgical oncologist and former Director of the Cedars Breast Clinic, who is riding with the support of his patients and their families.
• Gervais Rioux, bicycle designer, retailer and CEO of Argon 18 bikes, is one of the most successful North-American racers of his generation. The list of his accomplishments includes three Canadian road racing champion titles, three Quebec road championships and a win at Grand Prix de Beauce. Mr. Rioux represented Canada in major international events for over a decade, such as the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. This Montreal cycling great has been a champion for the cancer cause for many years and looks forward to his ride with Lance to help continue to raise awareness and funds for the fight against this dreaded disease.

“Being in a hospital, undergoing tests and facing the prospect of cancer can be a very cold and lonely experience” stated Courey Nadeau. “I was touched to be able to see firsthand that, through Cedars’ initiatives; a compassionate and caring environment has been created for the thousands of cancer patients that walk through the doors of the MUHC each year. Supporting the cyclists in the Ride with Lance is one of the ways that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those afflicted with cancer. Cedars is all about people helping people and easing the burden of cancer.’

“It is with deep gratitude,” continued Courey Nadeau, “for Cedars and for their generous sponsors that I ask Montrealers to learn about these wonderful riders and help them reach their $25,000 goal with a pledge to their ride and to this important cause.”

The Ride with Lance
On Friday, September 12th the small group will be driven to Hotel Quintessence in Mont-Tremblant to begin their day with Lance Armstrong. Following an energizing brunch, it is onto the bikes where the leading fundraiser will be recognized by wearing a special one of a kind yellow jersey for the entire ride. The post-ride celebration will include a special team dinner and address by Lance as well as the chance to spend more time with this awe-inspiring athlete, seven-time Tour de France champion and world inspiration for the cancer community.

A Yellow Jersey for the cause
The proceeds of Cedars Cancer Institute’s Ride with Lance will support the Cancer Care Mission of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the only comprehensive cancer centre in Quebec that cares for patients and their families from childhood through adulthood.

To fill one of the limited spots still available in the Ride with Lance, to make a donation or for further information call (514) 843-1606 or go to www.cedars.ca and click on Ride with Lance.