Echelon Gran Fondo heads to Hood River, OR - opportunity for participants to ride with Chris Horner.

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug. 4, 2010 - The Echelon Gran Fondo team announces their affiliation with one of the country’s most promising cancer research organizations and medical centers, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Named as the primary local beneficiary for the September 26th Echelon Gran Fondo in Hood River, Oregon, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is dedicated to making Oregon’s death rate from cancer the lowest in the nation and to shaping the way that cancer is treated worldwide. Dollars raised by the cycling participants will support the more than 400 clinical trials in progress at the institute, as their teams search for new cures, standards of care, treatments and therapies for cancer.

Leading the Institute is Dr. Brian Druker, recognized as a pioneer in cancer research and responsible for the most celebrated cancer discovery in a generation – the targeted drug Gleevec. He also happens to be an avid cyclist. “Brian is an inspiration – our goal is to help his continued research and medical innovation, and focus our efforts on raising awareness for organizations like OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The Echelon Gran Fondo is just one of many ways to funnel dollars directly towards the cure for cancer; we will do our part by producing a cycling experience genuinely unique, memorable and at the end of day satisfying for all involved, “ stated Hunter Ziesing, Executive Director of the Echelon Gran Fondo Organization.

Rachel Hunsinger, Development Director for the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute commented, “We are deeply grateful to benefit from this unique fundraiser. Cycling is such a popular activity in Oregon, so it's very fitting to have the Echelon Gran Fondo here. Their help to raise much-needed support for our efforts to defeat cancer is appreciated not just by our clinicians and researchers, but by our patients and their families."

Accompanying this announcement is the confirmation that this year’s top American finisher at the Tour De France, Team RadioShack’s® Chris Horner, is committed to support the Echelon ride including the celebratory Saturday evening dinner. “There is no doubt we are thrilled to have Chris Horner leading the way at our inaugural Oregon event. This bodes well for our ability to further increase the number of participants which therefore increases the dollars we can give back to our beneficiaries,” said Ziesing.

The event in Hood River is slated to be on par with the festivities and fanfare of Echelon’s distinction to produce “theater on the roads” and support their twofold mission: to create epic cycling events and raise money for the fight against cancer. LIVESTRONG® is the national beneficiary. Fundraising teams, now active, are comprised of Oregon businesses and individuals, such as Team PMC, Chase Group and Spoke Folks.  For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org/portland

About OHSU Knight Cancer Institute:
With the latest treatments, technologies, hundreds of research studies and about 400 clinical trials, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center between Sacramento and Seattle— an honor earned only by the nation's top cancer centers.  The honor is shared among the more than 650 doctors, nurses, scientists and staff who work together at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute to reduce the impact of cancer. Visit www.ohsuhealth.com/cancer.

About PlanetZ/Echelon:
PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org