Ryan Phua Memorial Kids' Ride Set for June 26: 8th Annual Benefit for LIVESTRONG

June 16, 2011 - PRLog -- BURLINGAME, Calif., June 16, 2011 – On Sunday, June 26, 2011, the 8th annual Ryan Phua Memorial Kids’ Ride, featuring more than 700 kids of all ages, will once again raise funds to fight cancer and support local schools at the 25th annual Burlingame Criterium.
Festive race activities will fill the streets, restaurants and shops of downtown Burlingame with thousands of competitive cyclists, children, volunteers and spectators. Adding to the excitement of Ryan’s Ride, the day’s multiple races will culminate in separate Men’s and Women’s pro cycling events.
The Burlingame Criterium provides the local community with the thrill of amateur and professional cycling in a challenging, fast, circuit of downtown Burlingame, while Ryan’s Ride encourages a new generation of cycling enthusiasts. Proceeds from the combined events benefit the LIVESTRONG Foundation and Burlingame Community for Education Foundation. Since 2004, more than $385,000 has been raised for Bay Area cancer survivor and elementary school programs.
“We’re proud to have this wonderful community event take place in Burlingame,” said Burlingame Mayor Terry Nagel. “At this time when schools are coping with limited funding, the money raised for local education supports badly needed supplies for close to 3,000 students in our elementary schools.”
On the last Sunday in June for the past eight years, Ryan's Ride has honored the memory of Ryan Phua, one of John and Michele Phua’s twin sons born after John’s successful recovery from cancer. In 2003, at the age of 2 1/2, Ryan passed away from Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.  John and Michele created Ryan’s Ride to celebrate his life, with event proceeds supporting Bay Area cancer survivorship programs in recognition of John beating the disease.
Ryan's Ride starts at 10:20 a.m., and participation is free.  Everyone is a winner in the 4 years and under, 5-8 years and 9-12 years categories. The rider from each age category who raises the most pledges receives a grand prize. The event begins at the corner of Lorton and California avenues. For more information and to register, visit www.ryansride.org. The success of Ryan's Ride depends on volunteers and donations. Please e-mail info@ryansride.org if you would like to support the event.
The Burlingame Criterium is a series of races, divided into age, gender and ability level categories. The fast, flat, 0.7 mile circuit through historic downtown Burlingame will challenge even the most advanced riders with tight, technical corners, sweeping turns and even cobblestones. All racers must be USA-Cyclinglicensed racers and ranked category 4 or above. Cash and prizes are awarded to top finishers in each race category. However, for most racers, the true reward in racing Burlingame is the chance to showcase their race skills in front of thousands of friends, family and spectators in attendance. For race and registration information, please visit www.burlingamecriterium.com.
Past Criterium participants have included current Tour de France contenders Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie, as well as the world-class TIBCO women's professional bike team.  KCBS radio personality Doug Sovern will emcee Ryan’s Ride.  
The Burlingame Criterium has been produced by the Peninsula Velo Cycling Club (www.penvelo.com) since 1974. Ryan’s Ride is a collaboration between Peninsula Velo and the Ryan Phua Memorial Fund. The 2011 edition is title-sponsored by Parnassus Investments and presented by the Hillsdale Shopping Center. Criterium Race category sponsors include Borel Square 76, Bianchi, Clif Bar, Kondra Systems, a Runner’s Mind, Summit Bicycles, and Vocker Kristofferson and Co; sustaining sponsors include Shimano,and Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill. 2011 Ryan's Ride sponsors include Franklin Templeton, Genentech, Bank of America, Safeway, Borel Private Bank and Trust Company, Shimano, Pacific Printing and Fulfillment, Clif Bar, FrutStix, ABC 7 (KGO-TV), KCBS All News 740, The Daily Journal.
For more information, contact:   
Travis Ma, info@penvelo.org(sponsorship and race inquiries)

Julie Wellik, 415-472-3878, jwellik@pacbell.net (media inquiries)

# # #

The Ryan Phua Memorial Kid's Ride is a unique, free event for kids 12 and under. Each year on the last Sunday on June, more than 700 kids and their families gather in Burlingame, California, to ride their bikes, trikes and Big Wheels on the same course as professional cyclists taking part in the Annual Burlingame Criterium, one of Northern California's top bicycle racing events with over 600 male and female competitors racing on the streets of downtown Burlingame. Kids participating in Ryan's Ride raise funds for Bay Area cancer programs through the Ryan Phua Memorial Fund through the LIVESTRONG Foundation.