Amgen Tour: Mayor to Start Stage 4

Here's a release provided by Breakaway From Cancer and the Amgen Tour of California:

Livermore resident and cancer survivor Mayor Marshall Kamena will participate in the official activities at the Stage 4 start of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California and experience the race in a way that very few ever will.  On Wednesday, May 18, Mayor Kamena will fire the gun to start Stage 4 of the largest cycling event in America, which will travel nearly 800 miles throughout California from May 15 -22, 2011.

Mayor Kamena was selected to start Stage 4 of the race by Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer®, a national initiative to increase awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship.

As a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, Mayor Kamena says that there are three critical components that helped him overcome his biggest challenge to date: family, religious convictions, and community.  He also credits medical support as a paramount soldier.  In the central role as his patient advocate, his wife, Barbara, greatly inspired and motivated him.  She had a constant belief in their victory and was present for every lab test, procedure, and treatment.  

Mayor Kamena will also meet the prior day’s recipient of Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey.  The jersey is awarded to the cyclist who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer – courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination, and perseverance. Recipients of the jersey during the 2010 Amgen Tour of California include Maarten Tjallingi (NED), Rabobank; Thomas Rabou (NED), Team Type 1; Will Routley (USA), Team Jelly Belly; Lars Bloom (NED), Rabobank; Ben Day (AUS), Fly V Australia; George Hincapie (USA), BMC Cycling; Tony Martin (GBR), HTC-Columbia; Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Team RadioShack.  

“Amgen is proud to be part of the Amgen Tour of California, which is helping advance the popularity of cycling in America while also helping increase awareness of the resources that are available to those affected by cancer,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology.  “The Breakaway from Cancer initiative provides a platform and access to our nonprofit partners who are a team of problem solvers to help you fight cancer, whether you’re interested in prevention, facing a new diagnosis, caring for a loved one or struggling with financial issues.”

As part of the Breakaway from Cancer Amgen Tour of California activities, cancer survivors will not only participate in each of the race starts, but also jersey presentations at each finish and other activities throughout the eight day event.

Other Amgen Tour-related articles:

• City Hosting Amgen Photo Contest
• PHOTOS: Students Learn How to Ride Like a Pro
• PHOTOS: Free-Wheeling Art for Amgen Downtown
• Amgen Bike Race Starts in Livermore
• Here's Where You Can Watch Those Amgen Tour Bikers Whiz Through Town
• Livermore to Host Major Biking, Bocce Events