When Southern California’s favorite all-female biking event, the Beach Babe Bicycling Classic once again takes to the streets, women can also take heart!
The ride’s organizer, Noble Pursuit, has formed a dream team with the Center for Women’s Cardiac Health & Research, part of the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Memorial, to promote awareness of heart disease as the leading health concern for women.
During the fourth annual ride – Sunday, July 13 at 8 a.m., starting/ending at two locations in Long Beach and Huntington Beach – the Center will offer free cardiac health screenings to the public at both locations.
Commented Janaé Noble, CEO of Noble Pursuit, “I am very excited to host this ride once again for hundreds of my fellow southern California cycling enthusiasts. I’m also excited to help educate them about heart health. Women are 10 times more likely than men to die of cardio-vascular disease. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. Nearly 500,000 women will die this year from cardiovascular disease, almost double the number of deaths caused by all types of cancer, including breast, combined.”
Added Cindy Peters, RN, MSN, ACNP, Center for Women’s Cardiac Health & Research, “We are thrilled to partner with the Beach Babe Bicycling Classic for the benefit of the community. It is important for women to understand that symptoms of heart disease present differently in women than men. The goal of our screening program is to help women and their primary care physicians understand and manage heart disease risk factors for women.”
The Beach Babe Bicycling Classic starts/finishes at Shoreline Aquatic Park (200 Aquarium Way @ Pierpoint Landing) OR behind the restaurant Zacks Too (21579 Pacific Coast Highway @ Beach Boulevard), with each ride winding along the beautiful beach bike trails between the two cities. Launching the festivities in Long Beach is City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and, in Huntington Beach, the town’s mayor, Matthew Harper. In addition to other ride support, the Orange County Transportation Authority will provide free bike valet (parking) services in Huntington Beach.
Registration for the ride is open to the public and welcomes women of all ages and abilities. Two routes, 15 and 38 miles, feature catered rest stops, roving mechanics to keep the riders rolling and enthusiastic “Surfer Dudes” to cheer the ladies along.
The Beach Babe Bicycling Classic, through its Wheels for Hearts campaign, is also asking women to donate and/or fundraise to support the Center’s screening prevention program.
