$450,000 Raised at Inaugural Canary Century Bike Ride for the Stanford Cancer Center

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three hundred and forty-four riders participated in the first annual Canary Century bike event on May 28, 2011 and raised funds for cancer research and innovative supportive care programs at the Stanford Cancer Center (SCC). Unlike other charity rides, the Canary Century ensures that one-hundred percent of all donations are directed to the event beneficiary, the SCC.

The event was produced by Canary Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the principle that the best way to reduce mortality and suffering from cancer is to detect it early. Don Listwin, Founder and CEO of Canary Foundation said of the event, "Canary Foundation understands that by activating the community, we can improve quality of life and make a positive difference right here where we live. We are so grateful to the participants in the Canary Century for helping us raise funds for this local cancer institute, and increase awareness of cancer early detection."

Cervelo, the innovative Toronto, Ontario cycling company, sponsored the event. Several of their most prestigious bicycles—with special edition black and yellow Canary-themed paint jobs—were provided for some of the highest fundraisers. Other event sponsors included Accuray, Bicycling Magazine, Infinera, Pacific Eye Specialists, and Pruneridge Golf Club. In addition, over 30 in-kind sponsors filled the rest stops and Village with products to refuel riders throughout the big day. Medical support was provided by The Village Doctor of Woodside, California, but careful riders and careful planning meant there was little needed.

Several current and former professional riders mingled with participants on the road and in the Village throughout the day. Tom Scully and Andrew Barker of professional Team Garmin-Cervelo rode the course, as did former professionals Joao Correia and Fast Freddie Rodriguez.

Top individual fundraisers for the event included Chip Krauskopf, Jason Mills, Cindy Welton, and Ryan Knotts, who together raised nearly $30,000. Top fundraising teams included Team Welton's Warriors of Stanford University Hospitals and Clinics, the Canary Chicks of the Bay Area Peninsula, Team MIPS of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University, and Team Lauren LPCH riding in recognition of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

The rides started and finished at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, California and launched the cycling season for many Bay Area residents. Cycling participants chose between a Century ride of 100-miles, a Metric Century ride of 100-kilometers, and a 50-kilometer ride. For more information on the Canary Century, visit www.canarycentury.com.

The 2012 Canary ride is scheduled for September 29, 2012.

About Canary Foundation
Canary Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to the goal of identifying cancer early through a simple blood test and then isolating it with imaging. Since 2004, Canary has raised over $30 million to support early detection research. Its collaborative research programs span multiple disciplines and institutions. One hundred percent of donations go to early detection research activities. For more information, please visit www.canaryfoundation.org.

About Stanford Cancer Center
The Stanford Cancer Center is world renowned for its advanced clinical care, scientific research and technological inventions. Drawing upon the expertise of more than 550 doctors, scientists, nurses and staff, it is the only center between San Francisco and Los Angeles to receive National Cancer Institute designation—an honor earned only by the nation's top cancer centers. Its location at Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley, an incubator for some of the country's most successful medical and technology organizations, allows patients to benefit directly from collaborations with local partners. With over 250 clinical trials, hundreds of research projects, the most sophisticated technologies, and comprehensive supportive care, the Stanford Cancer Center is at the forefront of today's advances in cancer treatment, prevention, and early detection. For more information, please visit http://cancer.stanford.edu/.

SOURCE Canary Foundation