4th Annual Rick’s Ride – April 10th, 2010, Kernersville, NC

PRESS RELEASE:  KERNERSVILLE, NC. – When fitness instructor, Rick Lyons was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2007, his family and friends were devastated to learn the statistics of the disease. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths and more than 42,400 individuals will be diagnosed and nearly as many will die from it this year alone.

Rick lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on March 16, 2007, only 19 days after being diagnosed. Rick’s Warriors are embarking on a mission to fight the disease that changed their lives forever.

By organizing Rick’s Ride, Rick’s Warriors aim to raise awareness and money to fund research efforts for pancreatic cancer. Rick’s Ride is an indoor and outdoor cycle event which will take place Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 8 am (outdoor) and 1 pm (indoor) at The Sportscenter Athletic Club in Kernersville, NC.

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“Pancreatic cancer seems to be the most fatal, least known and funded cancers,” says Jennifer Bowman, Rick’s Ride organizer. “Pancreatic cancer or any other cancer is a disease that is heartless. It does not care who it takes and who it leaves behind. It also does not care if our economy is struggling, it still attacks and kills. That is why we need everyone’s support at Rick’s Ride to help the CAUSE!”

A lack of early detection methods is one reason the disease kills nearly all who are diagnosed. According to the National Cancer Institute, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 5 percent, compared to 89 percent for breast cancer and 64 percent for colon cancer.

Despite these numbers, pancreatic cancer receives the least amount of federal research dollars among all leading cancers. This is why Rick’s family decided to give all the money raised in Rick’s name to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the country’s largest private supporter of pancreatic cancer research, where 100% of every donation goes directly to research. “Research is the only hope for our children, grandchildren, and other families affected by pancreatic cancer. I am determined to do what I can to help raise funds for pancreatic cancer research,” says Mary Lyons, Rick’s wife. In the last three years, Rick’s Ride has raised over $37,000 and hopes to add a large amount to that number this year.

For more information and to register for the event online, visit www.ricksride.dojiggy.com. If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Bowman at 336-403-0168 or email ricksride@gmail.com.

About The Lustgarten Foundation:
The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research was founded in 1998 through the efforts of Marc Lustgarten, former Vice Chairman of Madison Square Gardens, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1999, and Charles F. Dolan, Chairman of Cablevision Systems Corp. Since its founding, The Lustgarten Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $21 million in support of pancreatic cancer research. For more information regarding the Foundation visit www.lustgarten.org.