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Cancer survivor and cycling champion, Lance Armstrong will be in the Montreal region the weekend of September 12th and 13th in support of the Cedars Cancer Institute of the 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC) and Best Care for Life Campaign. Funds raised at two exciting events will benefit comprehensive cancer care in adult, adolescent, young adult and pediatric oncology at the MUHC.

"It is an honour for me to come to Montreal to benefit the Cedars Cancer Institute and 平特五不中 Health Centre's Cancer Care Mission" said Armstrong. "I am looking forward to our ride in September, and most importantly to continuing to raise awareness about this dreaded disease."

On Friday, September 12th, a small group of dedicated cyclists will be given the once in a lifetime opportunity to cycle along side Lance by participating in Ride with Lance. Participants will begin their journey at Hotel Quintessence in Mont-Tremblant and ride through the spectacular back country roads of the Laurentians on a 100km route.

The next day, Lance will kick off Cedars Cancer Institute Fuller Landau 鈥楻ain or Shine鈥� Dragon Boat Race & Festival giving opening remarks and inspiration to the 700 plus participating paddlers and volunteers. The September 13th event will take place at the Promenade P猫re-Marquette at the Lachine Canal.

鈥淥n behalf of the Ride with Lance organizing committee and all of the dedicated riders, I would like to express a heartfelt thanks to Lance Armstrong, the world鈥檚 pre-eminent cyclist and a tireless advocate in the fight against cancer, for agreeing to come to Montreal,鈥� noted Leonard Schlemm, President of the Atwater Club and Ride with Lance Committee Co-Chair.

鈥淗is presence is an enormous boost to our cause and a great event for our city鈥� added Roger Beauchemin, Committee Co-Chair, President and CEO McLean Budden.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Ride with Lance Armstrong
This is a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Montreal cycling enthusiasts to ride with this awe-inspiring athlete while raising funds for this very important cause. To participate in Cedar鈥檚 Ride with Lance, each rider has to raise a minimum of $25,000. On Friday, September 12th riders will be driven to Hotel Quintessence in Mont-Tremblant where they will begin their day with an energizing pre-cycle brunch reception with Lance. Then, it is onto the bikes. The leading fundraiser will be recognized by wearing a special one of a kind yellow jersey for the entire ride. Each rider will be able to fulfill the dream of every cyclist 鈥� to lead the peloton, side-by-side with Lance. Each rider will be presented this memorable moment on film. The post-ride celebration will include a special team dinner and address by Lance as well as the chance to spend more time with this incredible world representative for the cancer community.

Fighting the Dragon called Cancer
The next day Lance will travel to Montreal to give participants in the Cedars Cancer Institute Fuller Landau 鈥楻ain or Shine鈥� Dragon Boat Race & Festival his emotional message of courage and perseverance and encourage them as they embark on their challenging day of paddling for the cancer cause. Thirty-five teams (21 paddlers per boat) will paddle from their hearts for the Dragon Boat title. From every walk of life and from all corners of the Montreal community, paddlers have been gathering pledges throughout the year in support of their effort and with the funds raised going towards Cedars鈥� CanSupport/Faire Face program at the MUHC. As champions for the cause, they will gather together in the spirit of community to help beat the dragon called cancer. It鈥檚 an action-filled day of competition, inspired stories and fun. This not-to-be-missed special event will take place starting 8am on Saturday, September 13th at Promenade P猫re Marquette at the Lachine Canal.

September 12th and 13th 鈥� Cedars Weekend with Lance: It鈥檚 all about the Cause
The proceeds of Cedars Weekend with Lance will support the Cancer Care Mission of the 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC), the only comprehensive cancer centre in Quebec that cares for patients and their families from childhood through adulthood.

鈥淭reating cancer requires the skills of many different healthcare professionals 鈥� experts in surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and specialized nursing,鈥� explained Dr. Armen Aprikian, Head MUHC Cancer Care Mission. 鈥淧atients may need follow-up care, lifestyle counseling, or help returning to the community. To provide this range of specialized services, the MUHC has rationalized and integrated its array of cancer care activities into a new multidisciplinary mission. This is the most effective way of combating this complex disease.鈥�

鈥淥ur success,鈥� added Dr. Blair Whittemore, Head Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital, 鈥渄epends to a large extent on our ability to attract top-notch health care professionals, acquire equipment and invest in research. That is why we are all grateful to Lance Armstrong, the volunteers at Cedars and the Sarah Cook Fund and to our donors. Their contribution is making a real difference in the lives of many Montrealers.鈥�

About the Cedars Cancer Institute
Based in Montreal, Cedars Cancer Institute is a hospital-based charity whose priority is to ensure comprehensive cancer-care and funding to patients and health care professionals at the 平特五不中 University Health Centre (MUHC) specifically the adult sites the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), Montreal General Hospital (MGH) and, through its Sarah Cook Fund to Pediatric Oncology at the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital (MCH). Since its inception in 1966, the Cedars Cancer Institute has raised over $26 million in much-needed funds to: purchase state-of-the-art diagnostic oncology equipment; improve facilities for treatment and care of the cancer patients; offer cancer patients and their families free, psycho-social, practical and humanitarian assistance through its CanSupport program; and support cancer research, provide fellowships for visiting professors and improve public awareness of cancer related issues through lectures and education.

Along with Cedars CanSupport, groundbreaking initiatives have included: the creation of the Cedars Breast Clinic of the MUHC, an internationally-renowned facility providing comprehensive one-stop care for women in the screening, detection and diagnosis of breast cancer; Sarah鈥檚 Floor in pediatric hematology oncology in-patient unit at the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital; funding of a state-of-the-art Pharmacy for the Oncology Day Centre at the MGH; funding for the Intra-operative MRI for the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital; the Henry. R. Shibata Fellowship Fund supporting on-going basic and clinical research in oncology at the MUHC; The Edward J. Tabah Visiting Professorship in Surgical Oncology and the Vivian Saykaly Visiting Professorship in Medical Oncology.

About the Best Care for Life Campaign
The $300 million Best Care for Life campaign is an unprecedented philanthropic effort aimed at raising the funds needed to complete the 平特五不中 Health Centre鈥檚 Redevelopment Project on the Glen and Mountain campuses and the Capital Development Plan. Under the leadership of campaign chairman John A. Rae and conducted as a partnership of the Foundations of the 平特五不中 Health Centre, the campaign has already raised well over half of its total objective, of which $200 million will be directed to the modernization and construction of new facilities and the remaining $100 million will support critical immediate and transitional needs.

鈥淐ancer touches everyone,鈥� explains Peter Abraham, president of the Cedars Cancer Institute. For over forty years, Cedars has relied on the dedication, commitment and generosity of the people of Quebec to help us in providing the best care possible for patients and their families battling this terrible disease. On behalf of the board of directors of Cedars as well as the hundreds of volunteers, donors and sponsors who support our cause year-round, we invite all Quebecers to support the efforts of our cyclists and paddlers on September 12th and 13th and to join together in celebrating the inspiration and courage of the incredible Lance Armstrong on this important weekend of hope for cancer patients and their families.鈥�

For more information, to participate in or to make a donation to Ride with Lance and/or the Cedars Cancer Institute Fuller Landau 鈥楻ain or Shine鈥� Dragon Boat Race & Festival, call (514) 843-1606 or go to .