Charity Events - Network of Strength Breast Cancer Foundation RIDE TO EMPOWER

Join the Network of Strength (Formery Y-ME) Breast Cancer Organization for the first annual "Ride To Empower" Century in beautiful

The Ride to Empower is a destination bike ride, with fully-supported route lengths ranging from a 100-mile century to less than 32 miles. The Ride will take place during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Solvang, Calif., October 23-26, 2008, with the 1-day ride on October 25. This area is a prominent training ground for professional cycling teams and serves as host for the Discovery Channel pro-cycling team’s first training camp of the year. All of this will make Network of Strength's Ride to Empower an event you won’t want to miss.

The Ride to Empower offers the challenge to complete a long-distance cycling event, the opportunity to pay tribute to friends and loved ones touched by breast cancer, and an empowering and memorable 3-night and 4-day experience. Once registered, riders receive access to an expert training program, provided by a USA Cycling certified coach, to help guide both interested and avid cyclists to success.

Participants are required to raise a minimum of $4,000, and in exchange for successful fundraising efforts, riders will receive airfare (from within the contiguous U.S.), accommodations at a 3-star hotel and all meals. Network of Strength will provide riders with fundraising tips and support to help riders meet their goals. Best of all, funds raised through the Ride to Empower will help Network of Strenght ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone.

What’s Included?

In exchange for successfully raising $4,000 or more, each rider will receive:

* Roundtrip airfare from within the contiguous U.S. to Solvang, California
* Ground transportation from airport to the hotel
* Hotel accommodations for three nights and all meals during the stay
* Technical support and round-trip bike transportation
* Access to expert cycling training program
* Group training rides and team gatherings
* Fundraising support
* Ride to Empower jersey and team T-shirt

We hope you'll join us! Registration is available now!

Details here: http://ride.y-me.org/site/PageServer?pagename=RTE_ride_info

Information about the Network of Strength is here: http://www.networkofstrength.org/

If you're interested in supporting the event by volunteering at a checkpoint or driving SAG, please contact Planet Ultra at embassy "at" planetultra.com

Coming up in October! There's still time to sign up!

Network of Strength is now offering a reduced fundraising package for riders opting to coordinate and fund their travel and bike transportation to the Ride to Empower location. It's going to be a great event! Join us!

BREAST CANCER NETWORK OF STRENGTH - RIDE TO EMPOWER:
Planet Ultra was honored to participate in the inaugural Ride To Empower in Solvang, California on October 23-25, 2008. We hosted a short, social ride on Friday, and a metric century and century on Saturday, for 35 cyclists from all over the U.S.

Yes, they came to ride. but more importantly they came to support and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, a Chicago-based national nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. The organization does not raise money for research. Instead, it provides immediate emotional relief for anyone touched by breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength's peer support model is well differentiated in the breast cancer patient advocacy environment. The organization's premier peer support service dates back 30 years to when it was founded: a hotline staffed entirely by breast cancer survivors.

YourShoesT is the organization's peer support services, and encompasses the 24/7 breast cancer support center with real-time interpreters available in more than 150 languages; support via e-mail; the ShareRing Network, a monthly one-hour teleconference; and survivor-facilitated support groups.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength's newsletters, other publications and Web site, www.networkofstrength.org (http://www.networkofstrength.org/), provide information and support to those touched by breast cancer. Network of Strength AdvocacyT works to increase breast cancer research funding, support breast cancer related clinical studies and ensure quality health care for all. The Wig & Prosthesis Bank provides products for those with limited resources; and A Day for You is Breast Cancer Network of Strength's program for the medically underserved.

The organization has affiliates throughout the nation that provide services such as support groups; early detection and teen workshops; wigs and prostheses for women with limited resources; and advocacy on breast cancer policies.

The weekend was truly inspiring! We met some wonderful new friends - and were amazed by the positive attitudes and sheer determination of the many riders who rode more miles than ever before - and climbed steeper hills than they'd ever seen on a bike. At least a dozen of the women were breast cancer survivors, and two were currently undergoing treatment. They encouraged and inspired each other, and all of us who supported the ride and who made this super event happen.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength's fundraising goal for the event was $175,000 for this inaugural event. They didn't quite get there. So we're reaching out to for your help in reaching that goal. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible contribution to Breast Cancer Network of Strength, you may do so by cutting and pasting this link into your browser: https://secure2.convio.net/yme/site/Donation2?idb=1720421696&df_id=1520&1520.donation=form1&FR_ID=1323&PROXY_ID=1323&PROXY_TYPE=21
We hope to be part of the 2009 Ride to Empower!