At this year's Amgen Tour of California, the Rally Cycling team will ride eight custom-designed Diamondback Podium bikes that will be put up for auction as part of the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) "Ride into Spring" fundraiser.
Each bike recognizes a child who has received a grant from UHCCF and features the child's signature and unique butterfly artwork representing UHCCF and its dedication to helping children and families. The bikes are available for bidding online Friday, May 13, through Monday, May 23, with the goal of raising more than $75,000 to support funding of UHCCF medical grants, which are awarded to families who need financial assistance to help pay for their children's health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plans.
The 2016 edition of the Amgen Tour of California will be the eighth time competing in the event for the team, which is operated by Circuit Sport. This year will be the team's first Amgen Tour of California under the banner of title sponsor Rally Health. Rally Health is a digital health company that is working to reimagine consumer health engagement, offering simple ways for people to navigate the complex health care system, get access to care, and achieve their health and wellness goals.
"We are honored to receive this donation from the Rally Cycling team and Circuit Sport, recognizing UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation grant recipients as part of the Amgen Tour of California," said UHCCF President Matt Peterson. "The Tour provides a great opportunity to help more families in need and get the word out that medical grants are available for children and their families. We've already awarded more than 10,000 grants to families and are aiming to help thousands of more families in the years ahead."
Christian Schima, 3, of North Fontana, Calif., will attend the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California in San Diego May 15. Christian, who has craniosynostosis, received a UHCCF grant for surgery to allow his brain adequate room to grow and develop. The condition causes joints in the skull to close before the brain is fully developed. The bikes, riders and eight kids represented are:
Marcellus: Ridden by Will Routley for Christopher McGowan, 8, Wallingford, Penn.
Ulysses: Ridden by Evan Huffman for Yszabehl and Ghabriel Stauffer, ages 14 and 10, Neosho, Mo.
Agamemnon: Ridden by Danny Pate for Marissa Bartels, 19, Delano, Minn.
Rumanzovia: Ridden by Jesse Anthony for Morgan Walters, 9, Pittsboro, Ind.
Palawan: Ridden by Pierrick Naud for Bailey Coward, 16, Terry, Mich.
Monarch: Ridden by Emerson Oronte for Hope Lehto, 7, Frederick, Md.
Zalmoxis: Ridden by Adam de Vos for Christian Schima, 3, of North Fontana, Calif.
Goliath: Ridden by Rob Britton for Jayden Williams, 9, Lexington, S.C.
In addition to the eight Rally Cycling bikes, other items for sale in the auction include adult and youth bikes, accessories, youth helmets and gift cards. All proceeds from the online auction will fund UHCCF medical grants for children.
"The Amgen Tour of California is the premier cycling event in North America, and is the perfect platform to showcase these incredible bikes and highlight the great work of the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation," said Circuit Sport Managing Director Charles Aaron. "We are honored to be here in California, and hope this donation improves the lives of the many children and families served by UHCCF."
The 2016 edition of the Amgen Tour of California starts in San Diego Sunday, May 15, and heads north through the Golden State ending in Sacramento Sunday, May 22. The eight-day stage race includes two mountain-top finishes, a time trial, and flat and rolling stages to ensure a tough and exciting event. The first two stages finishing in San Diego and Santa Clarita are well-suited for the sprinters, while stage three ends atop the torturous Gibraltar Road outside Santa Barbara. Stage four continues north for a rollercoaster finish on the Laguna Seca raceway outside Monterey. The fifth, and toughest, stage of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California is a 130-mile trek with 6,600-feet of elevation gain from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe. From South Lake Tahoe, the riders move to Folsom for the stage six time trial. Stage seven finishes in downtown Santa Rosa, and stage eight concludes in front of the Capitol building in the heart of Sacramento.
Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded over 10,000 grants valued at more than $29 million to children and their families across the United States for treatments associated with medical conditions such as cancer, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, ADHD and cerebral palsy. Qualifying UHCCF families can receive up to $5,000 per grant with a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per child to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids.
For more information on UHCCF or to apply for a grant, please visit www.UHCCF.org.
About UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents' commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded over 10,000 grants valued at more than $29 million to children and their families across the United States. UHCCF's funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) employees. To apply for a grant, donate or learn more, please visit www.UHCCF.org .
About Rally Health, Inc.
Rally Health, Inc. is a consumer-centric digital health company that makes it easy for individuals to take charge of their health and wellness, and collaborates with health plans, providers, and employers to drive consumer health engagement. The company's flagship offering is Rally®, a digital health platform that offers a configurable suite of solutions that help people manage their health and healthcare needs: Rally EngageSM focuses on personalized health and wellness support; Rally ChoiceSM is a health benefits marketplace; and Rally ConnectSM offers provider search and cost transparency. More than 23 million consumers have access to the Rally platform through payers such as UnitedHealthcare, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Health Alliance, and thousands of employer groups. With offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver, the team behind Rally Health has been working together since 2010 to transform the consumer health and wellness industry. For more information, please visit www.RallyHealth.com.
About Circuit Sport
Circuit Sport builds and executes modern engagement platforms within the dynamic world of professional cycling. Our unique approach to team management and marketing has set an international standard for over twenty years. Our pro road racing team, Rally Cycling, is more than just a collection of logos on a jersey – they are a real-time connection with a passionate, involved global fan base. Get in touch to learn how we help brands shine in the crowded world of sports marketing.circuitsport.com
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