Verizon Employees to Ride Bikes in Diabetes Fundraiser -- the Annual Tour de Cure in Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 70 Verizon employees will mount their bicycles on June 5 to take part in the annual Skylands Tour de Cure®, a cycling event to raise funds to help prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by the disease.

To date, the Verizon team alone has raised more than $20,000 to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The team is also participating in the Verizon Foundation's matching-gift program in which the foundation will match the team's contributions up to $10,000.

The Skylands Tour de Cure will begin at the Verizon Campus, 1 Verizon Way.

The Verizon employees and other participants from the region will choose one of five routes designed to appeal to all levels of cyclists. The routes, which will travel through some of the most beautiful areas of Somerset, Morris and Hunterdon counties, range from 13 miles to 100 miles (the Skylands Century). The routes will feature rest stops with food and volunteers who will cheer on the riders.

Riders in the Skylands Tour de Cure will join more than 50,000 other cyclists and volunteers from across the country. Individuals and teams composed of co-workers, family and friends are helping to raise funds for the nearly 26 million Americans with diabetes.

"Many people will participate in the Tour de Cure for the stimulating competition, camaraderie and physical cycling challenge," said Mark Monteyne, head coach of Verizon's Health and Wellness Centers in Basking Ridge and across the U.S. "But the real reward comes in knowing that every mile they ride and every dollar they raise brings us that much closer to stopping this disease that affects approximately 700,000 people in New Jersey. With diabetes growing at near-epidemic proportions, the need for funds has never been so great."

The Tour de Cure raises funds through registration fees and pledges collected by the cyclists. To register, cyclists or volunteers can call the American Diabetes Association toll-free at 1-888-DIABETES or visit www.diabetes.org/tour.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly

consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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SOURCE Verizon