Talk about ambitious! Four local men are currently training to cycle a 3,000-mile, coast-to-coast bicycle race in six to nine days. The men---Dave Armento, Frank Fuerst, Tony Myers and Jerome Rossetti-- will ride in the men's 50-59 age group in the Race Across America (RAAM), which starts June 20 in Oceanside, California and ends in Annapolis, Maryland. 

Known as the Georgia Chain Gang, the team plans to use the event to raise $100,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The route climbs more than 100,000 feet and runs through 16 states as teams ride in rotating shifts 24 hours a day. Supported by a team of nine crew members, there are no scheduled breaks; the clock runs until racers cross the finish line.

The four men are all avid endurance athletes—having completed marathons, Ironman triathlons and long-distance cycling events. Sponsored by Atlanta Cycling, they train inside about 7-10 hours per week and do multiple 60-100-mile rides outside on the weekends.

They are all looking forward to the challenge and adventure of the race but, with a goal of raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, they see the event as a way to also raise awareness for blood cancers--- a disease that now affects nearly 900,000 Americans. Cyclist Dave Armento lost a sister, uncle and father-in-law to leukemia. "I am looking forward to the ride itself but I am also looking forward to making a difference," he says. "Research has come a long way in treating blood cancers—there are now 85% success rates---so hopefully we can help raise awareness and success rates even higher." In addition, crew member, Warren Bruno, is a cancer survivor. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Six months of chemotherapy and the love and support from his friends and family helped Warren to recovery and he is now in remission.  

Learn more about the Georgia Chain Gang at www.gachaingang.org

Learn more about Race Across America at www.raceacrossamerica.org

Donate online at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/ambbr09/gachaingang

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society^®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 67 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Georgia Chapter, 3715 Northside Parkway, Building 400, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30327

1-800-399-7312, 678-279-2001, www.lls.org/ga

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