LIVESTRONG

PARIS, Jul 25, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Throughout the 2010 cycling season, LIVESTRONG and its partners have raised awareness of the world's cancer burden and the people fighting against the disease. In a show of solidarity with the unified global movement against cancer and LIVESTRONG, today Team RadioShack dedicated Stage 20 of the Tour de France to the 28 million people around the world living with cancer. Team RadioShack's Tour de France grand finale marks the culmination of a season dedicated to the global cancer community with the goal of inspiring more people to take action in the fight against cancer.
During the 2010 cycling season, Lance Armstrong, LIVESTRONG founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist, and the members of Team RadioShack honored everyday heroes in the fight against cancer through "I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG," an initiative of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign. For 12 days in May and during the Amgen Tour of California, LIVESTRONG played host to "I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG," an interactive online game that allowed participants to ride for a loved one affected by cancer. Supporters created their own bike and encouraged their friends to "cheer" them on by joining the cause and ordering stickers and water bottles benefitting LIVESTRONG from Trek. The top racers with the most "cheers" won spots for their "I RIDE FOR" dedication stickers on Team RadioShack bikes during the world's premier cycling event. Team RadioShack has collectively pedaled 20,367 miles over the past three weeks to tell these stories of hope, courage and determination.


"Throughout the Tour de France, Team RadioShack's bikes have carried the names of people touched by cancer in order to honor them and the people who love them," said Armstrong. "Today, we're riding for every one of the 28 million people all over the world whose lives and families are affected by this disease."
"Cancer will become the world's leading cause of death this year and we must do more to turn that tide and support people fighting for their lives," said LIVESTRONG president and CEO Doug Ulman. "Team RadioShack has drawn worldwide attention to a disease too often dismissed as unbeatable and we are grateful for their unified demonstration of heroism."
On behalf of LIVESTRONG, Team RadioShack collaborated with partners RadioShack, Giro, Nike and Trek to compete against the worldwide cancer burden, a disease that claims eight million lives around the world annually.
"The Shack's partnership with Lance Armstrong has always been about more than cycling. It's about engaging our customers and more than 35,000 associates in the global fight against cancer," said Lee Applbaum, RadioShack's chief marketing officer. "We understand that for 28 million people around the world, the race is not over."
"Lance has dominated the Tour so completely over the past 12 years and he has done so much to help those battling cancer around the world, that doing a totally unique helmet for him and the RadioShack team to honor work and his last day in the Tour de France was both a pleasure and an honor," said Chuck Plat, Giro Senior Sports Marketing Manager. "We can't say thanks enough to Lance and hope to continue to back him in his efforts to battle cancer."
"Creating the UNITY bikes to help Lance and the team raise awareness of the global cancer epidemic has been a process that has touched a lot of people here at Trek," said Dean Gore, Trek's Director of Marketing. "We're proud to continue to help LIVESTRONG fight cancer by offering this same paint scheme to riders the world over through our Project One program with proceeds benefiting this amazing organization."
"As Lance completes his final Tour de France, we celebrate his amazing record of seven wins and the determination he's displayed throughout this year's race," said Simon Nicholls, Nike Brand Manager for LIVESTRONG. "We are proud his commitment to the global cancer fight will continue well beyond competition to help inspire and improve the lives of the millions of people affected by this terrible disease."
The support of these partners has made it possible for LIVESTRONG's footprint at the Tour to have maximum impact. In particular, Nike's "Chalkbot" and international expansion of the LIVESTRONG collection beyond the United States to Canada, France and the United Kingdom served as key drivers in helping LIVESTRONG further its mission and spread awareness about the global cancer burden. Since 2004, Nike has helped LIVESTRONG raise more than $80 million. Throughout the Tour de France, proceeds of Nike's sale of 130,000 LIVESTRONG wristbands will benefit France's La League contre le cancer and their work on behalf of cancer survivors.
About the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign In September 2008, LIVESTRONG announced its commitment to making cancer a global priority at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. LIVESTRONG made this commitment after its worldwide research, conducted over 18 months, revealed widespread misconceptions, stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer and recognized an immediate need to address this global epidemic. In response, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign was established.
In 2009, LIVESTRONG launched the first-ever unified global movement against cancer by urging world leaders, leading cancer organizations and cancer survivors to join its effort. After traveling to Australia, Mexico, Italy, Monaco, France and Ireland in its inaugural year, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign achieved significant results generating more than 300 commitments to the fight against cancer. These commitments represent work in more than 60 countries around the world and an investment in cancer control of more than $200 million in year one alone.
In 2010, LIVESTRONG is continuing its trail-blazing efforts to reduce the burden of cancer by tackling the stigma that the surrounds the disease. The Global Campaign launched in South Africa in March with a visit from Armstrong to fellow cancer survivors at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town and activities began in earnest in May with anti-stigma efforts and the Survivorship Empowerment Initiative.
About LIVESTRONG Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and based in Austin, Texas, LIVESTRONG fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. LIVESTRONG connects individuals to the support they need, leverages funding and resources to spur innovation and engages communities and leaders to drive social change. Known for the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG's mission is to inspire and empower anyone affected by cancer. For more information, visit www.LIVESTRONG.org.
About Giro Sport Design Giro(R), based in Scotts Valley, CA, is a worldwide leader in the design, development and marketing of premium, high-performance protective gear and accessories for action sports and active lifestyles. We are an innovative and consumer-focused brand, with a mission to create products on the leading edge of inspired design that help you to look and feel your best.
About NIKE, Inc. NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.
About RadioShack Corporation RadioShack is a leading national retailer of innovative mobile technology products and services, as well as products related to personal and home technology and power supply needs. The Shack(R) offers consumers a targeted assortment of wireless phones and other electronic products and services from leading national brands, exclusive private brands and major wireless carriers, all within a comfortable and convenient shopping environment. RadioShack employs approximately 35,000 people globally, including a team of friendly and helpful sales experts who are recognized for delivering the best customer service in the wireless industry. RadioShack's retail network includes 4,680 company-operated stores in the United States and Mexico, more than 550 wireless phone kiosks in the United States, and approximately 1,300 dealer outlets worldwide. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, please visit www.radioshackcorporation.com; to purchase items online, please visit www.radioshack.com. The Shack is a registered trademark of RadioShack Corporation.
About Trek Trek Bicycle is a global leader in the design and manufacture of bicycles and bicycling related products and accessories. From Tour de France-winning road bikes to tricycles designed to introduce the next generation of riders to the possibilities of pedal-power, Trek has a bike for nearly every rider. Trek believes the bicycle can be a simple solution to many of the world's most complex problems, including obesity, traffic congestion, and climate change, and is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from using bicycles more often for daily transportation, recreation, and inspiration. For more information about Trek, visit www.trekbikes.com.