The Tour of Hope Team arrives Oct. 6 in Charlotte, NC -- home of NASCAR -- and is greeted by a custom Tour of Hope race car.

CHARLOTTE, NC – An enthusiastic group undeterred by the rain turned out to greet the Tour of Hope Team at the Buddy Kemp Caring House on Oct. 6 in Charlotte, also home to NASCAR. You could hear the Team before you could see them, as the riders were accompanied to the rally by a specially designed Tour of Hope Richard Petty race car with a very loud engine. It was a surprise for all the riders, who were touched to see their names printed on the sides of the car, which was wrapped in the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope logo.

The Buddy Kemp Caring House and the city of Charlotte, NC welcomed the Tour of Hope team at a Hope Rally on Oct. 6.

The rally was emceed by Wendy Chioji, an Orlando television anchor and a cancer survivor who was a member of the 2003 Tour of Hope Team. She was joined by her 2003 teammate Jean Sellers, an oncology nurse from North Carolina. Tour of Hope rider Mary Kreis inspired all with her personal cancer survivor story, speaking emotionally about her young daughter, Viva. She urged all present to advocate for cancer research and to make the Promise. Tony West was thrilled to be joined at the rally by his cancer survivor wife, Mary and their son. His son was thrilled to see the race car!

Lance Armstrong rode into the rally with the Team and continued on the ride with the next squad, along with Discovery Pro Cycling Team member George Hincapie.