The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope is an inspiring 9-day journey across America to speed the search for a cure for cancer. Bristol-Myers Squibb, in partnership with Lance Armstrong, will lead 24 cyclists, chosen from the cancer community, across mountains and over plains to invigorate and inform the public about the importance of participating in cancer clinical trials.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope is more than a bicycle ride. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come in treating cancer, and a reminder of how far we have to go. For the 24 cyclists on the Tour of Hope Team, the ride is the challenge of a lifetime and an opportunity to inspire millions of people to make a personal commitment to support cancer research.

The Tour kicked off in San Diego on Thursday, September 29. The team rode in relays in 100-mile segments around the clock and arrived in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 8, 2005.

Members of the Team were chosen by a selection committee that includes leaders within the cancer community, representatives from the American Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, CancerCare, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, the Coalition of the National Cancer Cooperative Groups, C-Change, the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship, the Oncology Nursing Society and coaches from Carmichael Training Systems (CTS). This year, about 1,100 individuals applied to be on the Tour of Hope Team.

Information about future Tour of Hope events will be posted on the web site as soon as it is available. Sign up for email updates for the latest news on the Tour of Hope.

The ride was conducted by the Tour of Hope Team, 24 adults touched by cancer with strong cycling ability, physical endurance and a passionate commitment to supporting cancer research. The Team included cancer survivors, family members, medical professionals and researchers who, along the journey, shared their personal stories that bring to life the importance of cancer research. Read more about the 2005 Tour of Hope Team.

Lance Armstrong joined the Team at the start, finish and selected segments along the way.

Teamwork was a key element to completing the 3,300 mile cross-country journey in nine days. The 24 Team members were divided into four squads of six riders each that relayed across the country. Team members rode in relays of 100-mile segments around the clock. The distance and amount of time on the road varied based upon changes in weather conditions, terrain and rider fatigue.

Along the journey, Team members joined Lance in spreading the word about cancer research. They publicly shared their own personal experiences with cancer patients, researchers and other leaders at local cancer center events. Prior to and after the Tour of Hope, Team members served as volunteers, speaking to organizations in their communities about the importance of cancer research.

The Team members trained under the guidance of Lance Armstrong’s coach, Chris Carmichael, through his web-based coaching service, Carmichael Training Systems (CTS). Once Team members were selected, CTS coaches worked with the riders to develop a customized training regimen that prepared them for the ride.

Team members completed 14 weeks of training based upon a virtual training system developed by Chris Carmichael, Lance Armstrong’s coach. Heavy training weeks included 12-16 hours per week and light training (recovery) weeks included 8-12 hours of training per week.

Team members also participated in regular teleconferences with the coaches and professional staff to discuss their progress from late June through the end of September.

Safety was the number one priority of the ride. A “rider envelope” controlled the conditions and circumstances of the operation during the entire cross-country tour:

• There was always a lead vehicle directly in front of the riders and a sweep vehicle directly behind the riders.
  
• There was always a medical doctor with the crew to directly support the team throughout the Tour.
  
• All support vehicles were equipped with inter-vehicular communication devices so the support crew was in constant communication throughout the Tour.

All riders were fully supported throughout the journey by a staff of cycling professionals. During the ride, professional guides and the full support crew escorted the Team across the country. The Team support crew consisted of logistics planners, van support, bike mechanics, massage therapists and doctors. Several support vehicles were used to transport team members between riding sessions.

Accommodations, food and beverages were provided to the Team during the week of the Tour at no charge.

Team members received a custom Tour of Hope Trek Project 1 Madone 5.2 bicycle and helmet that were delivered during their training. On the Tour, the bikes were equipped with safety, nighttime riding and cold weather equipment. Click here to see the official bicycle.

Tour of Hope Team members were not required to raise funds for cancer research, but they had the opportunity to if they so wished.

Lance had an aggressive form of testicular cancer that had spread to both his lungs and brain which was treated with three Bristol-Myers Squibb drugs.

Thank you for sharing your story. Lance appreciates everyone who takes the time to write. Unfortunately, because of his training schedule, he is unable to respond personally to the many messages he receives.

Riders are not required to purchase Tour of Hope gear for the ride, however, jerseys and cycling shorts are available for sale in the Tour of Hope Store.

Active.com will issue a unique donation ID number, approximately 3-4 numbers long, to each rider. This donation ID number is listed on the riders’ registration receipt. All donors who write a check must include the rider’s donation ID number and rider’s full name on the check to ensure that the rider will receive credit for the check donation.

If you lost your donation ID number please send an email to support@active.com.

Each mailed check must list out the rider’s FULL name and donation ID number in the memo field of the check. Checks should be made out to the ‘Tour of Hope’ and should then be sent to:

Lance Armstrong Foundation
TOH 05
4850 Wright Rd Ste. 168
Stafford, TX 77477-4114
Email: info@tourofhope.org

(Please note that donations via check may take up to 3 weeks to process.)

Donations made online are updated in real time. Please allow 3 weeks for processing check donations. Starting in the end of July, Active.com will enter in the check totals weekly and your fundraising page will be updated accordingly. For questions pertaining to all check donations please email Lisa Tanner at lisatanner6@aol.com.

Active uses a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information. Credit card numbers are encrypted in Active's secure database which is located behind a firewall. Personal information collected on Active is stored in a secure operating environment that is not available to the public. All credit card and registration information supplied by users is transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Active's technology department conducts frequent site-security audits.

All of the funds – 100 percent -- raised will benefit cancer research through the Lance Armstrong Foundation. For more information about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, please visit the website at www.laf.org.

Yes, all donations are 100 percent tax deductible. All online donors will receive an email receipt for the tax-deductible contribution to the Tour of Hope; all check donors will receive a postal mail confirmation receipt from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) public charity, IRS Tax ID 74-2806618. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. For further information, please write to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Lance Armstrong Foundation
P.O. Box 161150
Austin, TX 78716

Please contact Active.com’s customer service line at 888-543-7223 ext. 4 or email support@active.com.

Local authorities deemed conditions unsafe due to flooding on area roadways and the potential of high winds. It was a difficult decision for ride organizers in consultation with the local authorities, but your safety was paramount.

The fundraising ride will not be rescheduled, primarily due to the logistics of route permitting.

As originally planned, the funds raised by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support cancer research and clinical trials.

All riders registered for the ride will receive t-shirts in the mail before the end of October. Further, those of you who qualified for fundraising prizes will receive them in the mail as well.

For those riders who have not yet returned their transponder chips, they must be returned in a bubble wrap envelope and have "hand cancel" written on the envelope so the chips don't fall out when they are put through a machine. You will receive a bubble wrap envelope in the mail with your t-shirt. They should be sent to Mike Marion, 134 Woodbrook Drive, Midway Park, NC 28544.

We rescheduled a smaller celebration for the Tour of Hope National Team, their friends and family, and the Baltimore-DC fundraising riders at the JW Marriott on Saturday afternoon. However, there was an overwhelming response among people who wanted to attend and the venue quickly reached capacity. Some individuals were subsequently turned away by hotel security officials in accordance with fire marshal codes. We are sorry if you were unable to gain access to the event at the JW Marriott and regret any disappointment this may have caused.