Breakaway from Cancer Partners with 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix Of Cycling
2/21/11 – New sponsor. New theme. New course.
The same commitment to excellence. The Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) is pleased to announce Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® initiative as the new presenting sponsor for the 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen works with four non-profit partners - the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients, every step of the way. This year’s Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix has chosen the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart Lung Blood Institute in Los Angeles as a recipient of this year’s proceeds.
“Breakaway from Cancer was created out of the belief that just as in cycling where it takes a strong support team to break away from the pack; it also takes a team approach to fight cancer,” explained Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “We are proud to sponsor this year’s Dana Point Grand Prix and the many activities taking place at the event to recognize, honor and celebrate cancer survivors.”
Clare Cameron, Executive Director of the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart Lung Blood Institute (PHLBI) (www.pacificmesocenter.org) is excited about the new collaboration. “The Pacific Meso Center at PHLBI is pleased and proud to join with the Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix. We are thankful the City of Dana Point has opened up its beautiful downtown streets to bike racers and cancer survivors alike. We hope to see hundreds if not thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers and family members join us celebrate life in the ‘Breakaway Walk’ before the start of the Men’s Pro race.”
The national criterium race on Sunday, May 1st, will attract the nation’s top professional and amateur racers. This year the closed six turn criterium course will finish on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway (Del Prado) before throngs of fans. As in the past, the course winds through neighborhoods above the bluff overlooking beautiful Dana Point Harbor. The revamped course offers ample areas to view and cheer our nation’s top elite cycling athletes. Public, kids, amateur and pro races will race all day, from 7 am to 6 pm PT.
The Dana Point Grand Prix (DPGP) is now recognized as one of America’s premiere 1-day professional races, and has quickly gained accolades among athletes and sports fans as the best venue on the West Coast. In addition to offering world class action on the race course, the DPGP showcases music, a beer garden on the finishing stretch, a Fan Zone Expo area on the race course, In ‘n Out Burger, and new for this year, a Kids Zone. The kids races again promise to be a big hit for the entire family – don’t forget to bring your camera!
“Joining with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative,” said Russell Ames, Executive Director of the DPCCF, “has given us the momentum to work with cancer charities like the Pacific Meso Center at PHLBI. We are honored to use our bike race to serve a higher cause. Each of us has been touched in some way by cancer. It takes a team to tackle cancer and we feel good about opening up our streets to these courageous survivors.”
Roger Worthington, President of the DPCCF, who also doubles as the voice of the bike race, encourages everyone to come on down. “If you like fast action, good music, happy kids, carbon fiber, cheeseburgers, sensational craft beer and watching elite athletes push themselves beyond the limit, then you’re going to want to bring your friends and family down here for the whole day. Come to Dana Point and take home a great experience!”
Breakaway from Cancer will also be hosting a fundraising gala in Dana Point the Saturday night before the bike race. Stay tuned for further details.
