Tour de Georgia and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Collaborate for the Health and Wellness of Children Across the State of Georgia

    ATLANTA, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Healthcare
 of Atlanta is pleased to announce a significant collaboration with North
 America's premier, professional cycling event to include a rolling festival
 of community activities in April. All fundraising activities with the Tour
 de Georgia presented by AT&T will raise money for pediatric cancer and
 blood disorders research through the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood
 Disorders Service of Children's. Fundraising activities will begin on April
 19; the Tour will take place April 21-27. A press conference hosted by
 Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Atlanta City
 Council President Lisa Borders will be held on Tuesday, April 8 at 11:45
 a.m. at City Hall to discuss the Tour and this collaboration.
 
     As Children's seeks to promote better health and wellness for Georgia's
 youth, the not-for-profit organization has teamed up with the Tour de
 Georgia's Health and Wellness Expo at each finish line Host Venue
 including: Savannah, Augusta, Gainesville, Braselton (Road Atlanta),
 Dahlonega, Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns Co. and Atlanta. In addition,
 fundraising events for the Aflac Cancer Center will be held throughout the
 Tour. These efforts highlight Children's and the Tour's commitment to
 enhancing the lives of children across the entire state of Georgia.
 
     "Children's is thrilled and honored to work with the Tour de Georgia to
 improve young lives on two fronts - bettering the health and wellness of
 Georgia's future generations and working toward a cure for childhood cancer
 and blood disorders," said Eugene A. Hayes III, president of the Children's
 Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. "We hope communities across the state
 will join us in support of these incredible athletes and this monumental
 health initiative."
 
     The Health and Wellness Expo will seek to provide a fun environment
 where parents and children can learn important information on healthy
 lifestyles and injury prevention. Children's experts will provide parents
 materials and resources on a variety of topics such as bike helmet safety,
 physical activity tips and lunchbox nutrition. Children can enjoy
 interactive education through "get fit" sessions and goal setting
 challenges.
 
     In addition to Children's involvement with the Health and Wellness
 Expo, the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's will have three signature
 fundraising events within the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T:
 
 

     Toast of the Tour
     On the Waterfront - Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
     Saturday, April 19
     6 p.m. - 9 p.m.    Join us in welcoming the Tour de Georgia to Savannah and throughout the
 state. No tux, no tie - just good southern food. All 15 professional
 cycling teams competing in the Tour de Georgia will be introduced with a
 silent auction, catered hors d'oeuvres, drinks, live entertainment,
 fireworks and special guests. Tickets are $250 per person/$2000 per table.
 To purchase tickets or for more information please visit
 http://www.choa.org/tourdegeorgia or contact Lora Hawk at 404.405.1748.
 
 

     Ride for Research - Advancing the Fight Against Cancer
     Chatham County (Savannah Area)
     Sunday, April 20
     10 a.m.    Join recreational and former professional cyclists at Ride for Research
 to support the search for a cure for pediatric cancer. Recreational
 cyclists from all over the Southeast who have raised enough donations will
 ride parts of Stage 1 of the Tour de Georgia. Ride details include: a loop
 starting and finishing at West Chatham Middle School in Pooler as they ride
 through some of southeastern Georgia's beautiful terrain in the Savannah
 area. Presented by AT&T, this event directly benefits the Aflac Cancer
 Center and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. For more information please visit
 http://www.choa.org/tourdegeorgia or call Paul Wood at 843-886-9365 to
 register.
 
 

     Tour de Kids 5K Run/Walk presented by AT&T
     Centennial Olympic Park - Atlanta
     Sunday, April 27
     8:30 a.m.    The Tour de Kids 5K Run/Walk gives participants a unique experience
 along the finishing circuit of the Tour de Georgia - while giving back to
 the community. This 5K run/walk begins in Centennial Olympic Park on
 Peachtree Street then back - highlighting downtown Atlanta. Adult entries
 are $20.00, children $15.00 (16 and younger), family of 4 (2 adults/2
 children) $55.00 and $15.00 for each additional child. To register or for
 more information, please contact Jessica Kilgallen at 404-785-7376 or visit
 http://www.choa.org/tourdegeorgia.
 
     Children's Healthcare of Atlanta treats children from every county in
 Georgia and is a proud partner in the 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by
 AT&T. All proceeds benefiting the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's will be
 earmarked for research to fight childhood cancer and blood disorders.
 
     About Children's Healthcare of Atlanta:
 
     Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric
 healthcare systems in the country, is a not-for-profit organization that
 benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our
 community. Operating three hospitals with more than half a million patient
 visits annually, Children's is recognized for excellence in cancer,
 cardiac, neonatal, orthopaedic and transplant services, as well as many
 other pediatric specialties. To learn more about Children's Healthcare of
 Atlanta, visit http://www.choa.org/ or call 404-250-KIDS.
 
     About the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's
 Healthcare of Atlanta
 
     The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's
 Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer,
 hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving infants to
 young adults. Recognized as one of the top five pediatric cancer centers in
 the country by Child magazine, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 325
 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,000 patients with
 sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. The Aflac Cancer
 Center is one of many programs at Children's committed to enhancing the
 lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and
 education. Children's, one of the top three pediatric healthcare systems in
 the country, is a not-for-profit organization that benefits from the
 generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our community. Visit
 http://www.aflaccancercenter.org/ or call 404- 250-KIDS for more
 information.
 
     About the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T
 
     The Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T is North America's premier,
 professional cycling event and rolling festival of community activities.
 The Tour was first held in 2003 and has become a spring tradition with a
 varying route of over 600 miles of racing. Over 2.8 million spectators have
 traveled to Georgia to watch the event in the past five years, and direct
 economic impact has totaled over $148 million. The event is sanctioned by
 the Union Cycliste Internationale (2.HC ranking), and is part of the USA
 Cycling Professional Tour USA Cycling, Inc., making the event one of the
 top stage races for elite athletes around the world. The Tour de Georgia is
 operated by the Tour de Georgia Foundation and managed by Medalist Sports
 (http://www.medalistsports.com/). Route maps, host venue information,
 merchandise offerings and sponsor news are available at the official
 website, http://www.tourdegeorgia.com/.
 
 
 

SOURCE Children's Healthcare of Atlanta