The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope™ Team embarked on a nine-day, 3,300-mile cross-country bicycle relay that departed from San Diego on Thursday, September 29, and culminated in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 8. Cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong led the Team on their first leg across the country, and joined the Team at various points along the way.

The 2005 Tour of Hope Team was comprised of cancer survivors, caregivers, researchers, nurses and physicians. Representing 19 states, these riders were brought together to share their unique experiences in treating, researching, living with or helping a loved one cope with cancer.”

“At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we know just how tough an enemy cancer is – particularly when so many people still feel there is little hope in preventing or treating the disease,” said Peter R. Dolan, chief executive officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “That’s why we have teamed up with cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong for the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope. Our team members cycled coast-to-coast, stopping along the way in big cities, in small towns, and at top research centers to encourage people to learn more about cancer clinical trials and the hope they can provide to people battling cancer today – and tomorrow.”

“Each day, this team rode the equivalent of approximately one stage in the Tour de France for nine days straight,” said Armstrong. “They are not professional cyclists, but they undertook this challenging ride to prove that cancer research is the way forward in battling this disease, and to show the country that clinical trials can bring new therapies to cancer patients, like the three drugs from Bristol-Myers Squibb that helped me beat cancer."