Connecticut Challenge Announces Dates for 5th Anniversary Charity Bike Ride

May 18, 2009

Connecticut Challenge organizers have set Saturday, July 25th as the date for their 2009 ride, the 5thanniversary of its signature fundraising event. “We are especially excited this year to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the ride. Our riders have raised over $2 million since 2005, which has allowed us to improve the care of Connecticut’s 120,000 cancer survivors,” said co-founder, Jeff Keith, of Fairfield. “We all know people who have battled cancer with incredible courage. What we don’t often see is how these survivors may continue to struggle with the long-term effects of their disease and their treatments. By helping us to raise money to improve survivorship programs across Connecticut, our riders, volunteersand donors are making a very direct, positive impact on the cancer survivors in their lives,” said Keith.

Proceeds from the ride have supported the Connecticut Challenge Adult Survivorship Clinic and the HEROS Clinic for survivors of childhood cancers, both located at Yale Cancer Center. In addition, theConnecticut Challenge is also working in partnership with several other hospitals to build out their own survivorship programs, including Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and Stamford Hospital. By screening for long-term health and psychosocial effects from the disease and treatments, the goal of these programs is to educate and empower survivors to optimize their health, quality of life and longevity. “We are excited to work with these hospitals. We are leveraging what has been learned through the clinics at Yale to help start new survivorship programs at hospitals across the state. Only by extending our efforts across the state are we able to make a real impact on Connecticut’s large population of cancer survivors,” said Mazzone. Connecticut is among the very few states with a comprehensive program dedicated to meeting the needs of cancer survivors.

About the Connecticut Challenge

The Connecticut Challenge was founded in 2005 to create supportive care resources for cancer survivors in Connecticut. The organization currently supports existing or developing survivorship programs at Yale Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and Stamford Hospital. The CT Challenge also provides research grants, sponsors medical symposiums and promotes survivor education and awareness events. The organization raises money primarily through the annual Connecticut Challenge charity bike ride. Scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, starting and finishing in Fairfield, CT, riders of all ages and skill levels can register for a 12, 25, 50, 75 or 100-mile ride and raise funds from personal sponsors to support their efforts. To learn more about riding, volunteering or donating to the 2009 event, please visit www.ctchallenge.org.

About Yale Cancer Center

Established in 1974, Yale Cancer Center was one of the first university-based comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. Today, it is one of a select network of only 40 in the United States, and the only one in southern New England. The Center harnesses the scientific resources of Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Yale University to excel in translational research, an approach through which laboratory discoveries are quickly and efficiently integrated with clinical patient care.