Riders Nationwide Gear Up to Raise Money and Awareness for Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization™
Beth Leasure, one of the many expert cycling coaches at The Peaks Coaching Group, has been selected to lead the training program for Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization’s first-ever Ride to Empower cycling event. (www.y-me.org)
Leasure is a former professional cyclist with racing experience in Europe and the US, and also a masters national champion cyclist. For more than 10 years, the Peaks Coaching Group (www.PeaksCoachingGroup.com), a group of endurance sports coaches, has successfully coached over 1000 endurance athletes to many regional, national and international titles. Leasure has been coaching cyclists and endurance athletes for over five years and has specialized in elite development to acquire team contracts for about a dozen of her promising amateurs..
Founder and CEO Hunter Allen commented, “It’s very exciting to help Y-ME develop this new event, and I am thrilled that Beth has been selected for this highly prestigious job. I am excited that the Peaks Coaching Group can make a difference for the participants, and help Y-ME ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization™ is celebrating October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its first Ride to Empower cycling fund raiser. From October 23-26, 2008, hundreds of breast cancer supporters will embark on a four-day adventure, culminating in a three-day 100-mile bike ride through Solvang, California’s wine country to help raise $1 million to fund Y-ME’s programs and services offered free of charge to anyone affected by a breast cancer diagnosis.
Participants are required to raise a minimum of $4,000. In exchange for successful fundraising efforts, each rider will receive round trip airfare (from within the 48 contiguous United States), accommodations at a three-star hotel, and all meals. Once registered, riders receive access to an expert training program provided by a USA Cycling certified coach. Y-ME will also provide fundraising tips and support to help riders meet their goals.
“The Ride to Empower offers the challenge of completing a long-distance cycling event and the opportunity to pay tribute to family and friends touched by breast cancer,” said Margaret C. Kirk, CEO of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. “Thanks to our partners, anyone who has the ambition, drive and passion to tackle a destination bike ride and support people with breast cancer can be a part of this amazing event.”
Riders can choose from route lengths ranging from 30 miles to a 100-mile century. Riders opting for the century route will undertake the challenge of climbing 4,900 feet while covering 100 miles. Metric century riders (100km) will cover 62 miles with 3,100 feet of climbing.
Participants can sign up online at www.y-me.org or call 877-YME-7223 to select their training location and reserve a spot as a rider with a non-refundable $100 registration fee. Riders will then gain access to an online tool that allows them to customize a fund raising Web site.
About Peaks Coaching Group
The Peaks Coaching Group was founded in 1996 with the philosophy of caring about their athletes. Its slogan, “We care about your success!” is at the heart of each of the Peaks coach’s work. All of the expert and elite coaches are selected after a rigorous process by Peaks Coaching Group founder, Hunter Allen, with knowledge, caring and experience at the core of every selection. Coaching athletes from beginners to professionals, endurance athletes of all types have been able to benefit from the expert guidance given by the coaches of Peaks Coaching Group. For information, visit www.PeaksCoachingGroup.com or call 540-587-9025.
About Y-ME
Y-ME’s mission is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. The organization does not raise money for research but is here today for those who can’t wait for tomorrow’s cure. Y-ME has the only 24-hour hotline staffed entirely by trained breast cancer survivors. The organization is a 501(c)(3) and meets the National Health Council’s 41 Standards of Excellence in governance, fundraising, accounting and reporting, and evaluation. For information or support, visit www.y-me.org or call 1-800-221-2141 (English, with interpreters available in 150 languages) or 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish).
