Pedal it Pink in 2010

Press Release For immediate use: 22 February 2010 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Pedal it Pink in 2010 Breast Cancer Campaign’s women-only cycle ride, Pedal it Pink, sponsored by Santander, is set to take the nation by storm in 2010 with four events already announced throughout the UK. The first Pedal it Pink of 2010 will take place in Lee Valley Park on the Essex/Herts border on Sunday 28 March. So if you have a ‘get fit goal’ for the New Year this is a perfect event to enter to help motivate you to keep training. Following the success of the very first Pedal it Pink, which took place in Liverpool in spring 2009, the event will return to Sefton Park on Sunday 18 April 2010, with hopes of being an annual challenge in the city. Olympic cycling champion, Victoria Pendleton is an ambassador of Pedal it Pink and took part in the first Liverpool event with her mum. She said: “I really enjoyed the event, it was refreshing not to ride on a road for a change. It was so good to see so many women out there supporting such a great cause and everyone was really supportive of one another, clapping and cheering each other on. What a great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon!” Pedal it Pink will also be heading further north with Scotland’s very first event in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on Sunday 16 May and later in the year on Sunday 17 October, Nottingham will hold their second Pedal it Pink challenge at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont. Pedal it Pink has a variety of cycle routes to choose from so there is something to suit all abilities. Beginners can opt for the family 5k lap (which is also open to the men and children in your life) and those wishing to push themselves that little bit further can select either a half (13.1miles) or full (26.2miles) marathon distance. At each event, all routes will be completely enclosed within a park, so it’s safe, traffic-free and suitable for all existing and aspiring cyclists. Each year 45,500 women and 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. Although it is the most common cancer, thanks to research funded by charities such as Breast Cancer Campaign, around 80 per cent of women diagnosed today will be alive in five years’ time. Samantha Gold, Senior Events Manager at Breast Cancer Campaign said: “We are delighted to announce the new 2010 dates and venues for Pedal it Pink. Our first year was such a huge success with over 1,200 ladies pedalling away in pink to help the charity to fund vital research into breast cancer. “We have raised over £100,000 so far through Pedal it Pink and would like to encourage you to help us continue to add to this amount by joining us for the 2010 events. Not only is cycling a great way to stay fit but the challenge of the event is sure to make it a fun day out for friends and family with all proceeds going to a very worthwhile cause.” If you would like to register for one of the Pedal it Pink rides and help put the brakes on breast cancer, please visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, email pedalitpink@breastcancercampaign.org or call 020 7749 3700. It costs £15 for the full marathon, £10 for the half marathon and £5 for the family 5k lap. Cycling is a great form of cardiovascular exercise, which helps to burn fat and if done regularly contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Cycling is also great for toning leg muscles and can burn up to 500 calories an hour. ENDS Picture caption: Victoria Pendleton at Liverpool’s Pedal it Pink 2009 Notes to editors • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • Currently it supports 112 research projects, worth over £16.8 million, in 42 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women • In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/ • Founded in 1857, Santander operates in 40 countries and in the UK through Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and the savings business of Bradford & Bingley. Together they have over 1,300 branches, around 4,500 cash machines and they provide a full range of retail and corporate banking services to 24 million customers. • Santander’s community activities in the UK feature employee fundraising campaigns which provide support to local and national charities including Comic Relief, Children in Need and Help the Hospices. At the company’s main office sites employees are involved in volunteering for schools and community groups. Through the Abbey Charitable Trust donations are provided to projects that support disadvantaged people through: education and training; community regeneration and financial advice. This year the community programme will contribute over £3 million to good causes around the UK. • Abbey and the flame logo are registered trademarks. The Bradford & Bingley logo is a trade mark of Bradford & Bingley plc and is used under licence.

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