MEDIA ADVISORY

TO: Weekend assignment editors, reporters

RE: The 4K for Cancer hits the road Sunday, May 30

FROM: Kristine Casey and Jose Medina /443-562-5554/ 4KDirectors2010@gmail.com

WHEN: Sunday, May 30 at 7:00 a.m.

WHERE: Baltimore Inner Harbor

Twenty eight students and recent graduates will kick off the ninth annual cross-country bicycle journey known as the 4K for Cancer. These dedicated youth will be cycling in the honor of their families, friends and loved ones whose lives have been pained by cancer. They have all pledged to raise at least $4,500 and will be spending their entire summer inspiring and uniting communities across the country in the fight against cancer.

It takes the 4K 63 days to travel across the country, riding anywhere from 50 to 125 miles each day to reach their planned stop. Everything along the way, particularly food and lodging, is donated to the team. The gracious hosts include churches, YMCAs, community centers, and schools. At many of these stops, these hosts organize community dinners where the riders interact with the people and give a cancer awareness presentation.

The 4K for Cancers worthy beneficiaries include the American Cancer Society’s Baltimore Hope Lodge, a free home-like residence for cancer patients seeking treatment at Baltimore hospitals and The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, a truly state of the art facility that houses cancer research, treatment, support groups, and community outreach at Johns Hopkins.

At 7:30 a.m on Sunday, May 30, 2010, the riders will ceremoniously dip their back tires in the water before embarking on their 4,000-mile coast-to-coast trip. Baltimore Hope Lodge Coordinator Karen Seaberry, Dr. Jean Ford of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, and this years Co-Directors Kristine Casey and Jose Medina will speak at the ceremony to kick off another incredible 4K Ride. The journey will end on July 31 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Upon their arrival on the West Coast, the students will dip their bikes’ front tires in the water to signify to completion of their journey.

The 4K for Cancer Inc. began in 2001 when cofounders Ryan Hanley and Leah Blom, sophomores at JHU, decided to combine their desire to do their part in the fight against cancer with their dream of cycling across the United States. This 4,000 miles trek from Baltimore to San Francisco was inspired by the memory of, Ryans father, the late John Hanley, who died in 1995 from cancer.

More information about the 4K For Cancer can be found online at http://www.4kforcancer.org. If you would like to reach the students this weekend to provide media coverage for their painstaking efforts and struggles in the fight against cancer, please contact summer 2010 Co-Directors Kristine Casey and Jose Medina at 443 562 5554.

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