More than 100 company employees will ride across the country with the goal of raising $1 million for cancer research
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, for the fifth year in a row, Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is launching Coast
2 Coast 4 Cancer, a nearly month-long cross-country bike ride to
raise money for cancer research. From September 5-25, 109 company
employees will ride a total of nearly 3,000 miles from Cannon Beach, OR,
to Long Branch, NJ with the goal of raising $1 million for the V
Foundation for Cancer Research. Funds raised will be matched dollar for
dollar by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, up to a $500,000 maximum
donation.
“Every day at Bristol-Myers Squibb, we are inspired by the hope of a
future where more people who are diagnosed with cancer can live longer
and have more active lives. For many of us, our motivations to advance
cancer research are also personal,” said Johanna Mercier, head, U.S. and
Large Markets, Worldwide Commercial, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “Since 2013,
our Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer employee riders have raised more than $3.3
million for cancer research with the goal of hopefully changing the
course of this disease for our loved ones affected by the disease and
all of the patients we work for every day.”
“Our mission is to achieve Victory Over Cancer®, which can
only happen through breakthroughs in research,” said Susan Braun, chief
executive officer, the V Foundation for Cancer Research. “The funds
raised through the Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride will help the V
Foundation invest in more and much-needed research projects across
multiple types of cancer to make the largest impact for people diagnosed
with the disease.”
The employees who ride in Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer are novice cyclists who
trained extensively to prepare for the cross-country ride, during which
each rider will cover approximately 225 miles. While some riders have
been diagnosed with cancer, others are riding in honor of loved ones
affected by the disease. Donna DiMaggio, a Bristol-Myers Squibb employee
who was twice diagnosed with breast cancer and lost her mother to
ovarian cancer, said, “Training for and participating in the Coast 2
Coast 4 Cancer ride is the experience of a lifetime – pushing me to
overcome physical, emotional and mental hurdles. I’m grateful
Bristol-Myers Squibb and the V Foundation have given me the opportunity
to use my personal experience with cancer to contribute to future
research.”
Bristol-Myers Squibb colleagues from across Europe are also showing
their commitment to cancer research in a similar fashion by embarking on
the third annual Country 2 Country 4 Cancer ride. Six teams across 14
countries totaling 82 riders have committed to going the distance in
this year’s ride, which covers approximately 3,600 kilometers (2,236
miles). Riders will cycle across Europe from Germany, through
Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain, with the final team finishing in
the UK. Funds raised will support market-specific, cancer-focused
charities in Europe.
For more information about the 2018 Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride, please
visit cancerbikeride.org
or follow the ride on Twitter,
Facebook
and LinkedIn
by using #C2C4Cancer.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission
is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help
patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about
Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com
or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter,
YouTube
and Facebook.
About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the
late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and
ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $200
million in cancer research grants nationwide. The V Foundation awards
100 percent of direct donations to cancer research and programs. The V
Foundation’s endowment covers administrative expenses. The Foundation
awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process
strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Committee. For more
information on the V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
Media:Bristol-Myers SquibbHeather Acker, 973-713-6137 Heather.Acker@bms.com orV Foundation for Cancer ResearchMissy White, 919-805-0767 missy@intrepidmg.com