DENVER, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- At a charity event at Denver's Tandem
Cycle Works of Colorado today, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), a
non-profit organization dedicated to cancer survivorship, will purchase
two tandem bikes and donate them to the Rush-Miller Foundation, which enables
blind/visually impaired children to experience the joy of bike riding. The
tandem bikes, which are designed to fit two riders, will be given specifically
to children who have lost their eyesight due to cancer.
The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. MST and will take place at Tandem Cycle
Works of Colorado, located at 1080 South Gaylord Street in Denver.
According to an article in American Fitness, exercise helps patients who
are recovering from illness by increasing their physical performance and
mental fitness. Children who become blind/visually impaired as a result of
illness have an especially difficult time returning to physical activity.
To address this problem, the Rush-Miller Foundation provides tandem bikes for
blind/visually impaired children who dream of riding a bicycle.
In addition, the expense of tandem bikes, which is between $1,500 and
$2,000, stops many families from purchasing them. Parents of children with
cancer are often not only faced with large medical bills, but also the
temporary loss of income due to the high demands of being a full or part-time
caregiver while their child is undergoing treatment. Personal financial
situations for these families often make it prohibitive to purchase expensive
recreational equipment for their children. Thankfully, donors, like the LAF,
are able to provide funding to organizations, such as the Rush-Miller
Foundation, to assist these families and provide children with the ability to
make their fantasies of bike riding into realities. With this donation, The
LAF is taking two children off the Rush-Miller Foundation waiting list, which
currently has six more children wishing for tandem bikes in 2002.
"Physical activity is important for anyone recovering from an illness, and
visually impaired children need to be given the opportunity to take back that
part of their lives," said Bianca Rodriguez, director of communications and
outreach for the LAF. "Through our grant to the Rush-Miller Foundation, we
will help children surviving cancer experience the life-enhancing aspects of
bike-riding and give them the ability to pursue their athletic dreams."
"We are very grateful to the LAF for this generous donation," said Eric
Miller, founder of the Rush-Miller Foundation. "Two very special children --
and their families -- are having their wishes granted today. This is a great
way to kick off the holiday season."
About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong,
the Lance Armstrong Foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life for
those living with, through and beyond cancer. The LAF seeks to promote the
optimal physical, psychological and social recovery and care of cancer
survivors and their loved ones. The LAF focuses its activities on survivor
resources and support, community survivorship programs, national advocacy
initiatives, and scientific and clinical research grants. For more
information, call the LAF at 512-236-8820 or visit http://www.laf.org .
About the Rush-Miller Foundation
The Rush-Miller Foundation was formed in 2001 in honor of 5-year-old
Garrett Rush-Miller, who was visually impaired due to a malignant brain tumor.
After learning about International Tandem Cyclist Matt King, also blind, the
Rush-Miller family purchased a tandem bike and saw Garrett become active like
he was before he lost his sight. They wanted to share this wealth with other
families dealing with blind/impaired vision children and the Rush-Miller
Foundation was born. Currently, the Pueblo, Colorado based foundation serves
blind children nationwide by providing them with tandem bikes so that they can
enjoy the experience of riding their first bike. For more information, call
the Rush-Miller Foundation at 866-273-2925 or visit
http://www.rushmillerfoundation.org .
Contacts:
Bianca E. Rodriguez
Director of Communications and Outreach
Lance Armstrong Foundation
(512) 236-8820 x103
bianca@laf.org
Sarah Russ
Citigate Cunningham
(512) 652-2740
sruss@citigatecunningham.com
SOURCE Lance Armstrong Foundation
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Related links:
http://www.rushmillerfoundation.org
http://www.laf.org
CONTACT:
Bianca E. Rodriguez, Director of
Communications and Outreach of Lance Armstrong Foundation,
+1-512-236-8820, ext. 103, or bianca@laf.org ; or Sarah Russ of
Citigate Cunningham, +1-512-652-2740, or
sruss@citigatecunningham.com , for Lance Armstrong Foundation
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