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Thursday, Sept. 29 The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope Team will stop in Charlotte Thursday, Oct. 6, during a nine-day, 3,300-mile cross-country bicycle relay to promote cancer research. Cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is leading the team on its first leg departing from San Diego, Calif., today.

The cycling team, comprised of cancer survivors, caregivers, researchers, nurses and physicians, will stop at the Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave., on Oct. 6 sometime after 11 a.m. Armstrong is not scheduled to be riding with the team when it stops in Charlotte.

The 2005 Tour of Hope Team departs from Scripps Green Hospital in San Diego today and culminates in a Grand Finale event in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Representing 19 states, these riders have been brought together to share their unique experiences in treating, researching, living with or helping a loved one cope with cancer. Each team member will cycle about 800 miles, averaging 18.5 miles per hour during the journey.

"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 are cycling 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 will ride the equivalent of approximately one stage in the Tour de France for nine days straight," said Armstrong. "They are not professional cyclists, but they are undertaking 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."

To support the 2005 Tour of Hope Team along their journey, the public is invited to attend cancer community events, cheer on the Team at Hope Rallies, make the Promise, a personal commitment to learn more about cancer and clinical trials, and send messages of hope to the riders through www.tourofhope.org

Hope Rallies will take place at points along the Tour of Hope route. These public rallies provide opportunities for the community to meet the Team members and hear their stories about the impact of cancer research on their lives.

Thursday, Oct. 6: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Buddy Kemp Caring House, 242 Colonial Ave.
Riders are expected to arrive between 11 a.m. and noon.

The Charlotte rally, featuring a NASCAR theme, will include entertainment, food vendors, a welcome by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and remarks by special guests, including Wendy Chioji, a 2003 Tour of Hope Team member and cancer survivor. As a news anchor at WESH-TV NBC in Orlando, she reaches many people with her story of survival and hope. Discovery Channel Pro-Cycling Team member George Hincapie also will attend the rally.

The following organizations are supporting the Tour as partners: The ASCO Foundation, CancerCare, C-Change, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, Lance Armstrong Foundation, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and the Oncology Nursing Society.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope is supported by the following national sponsors who provide in-kind contributions: Dasani, Discovery Communications, Giro, Nike, Oakley, PowerBar, Shimano, Subaru and Trek Bicycles. Local cancer community event sponsors include Dasani, H.E.B., and Qualcomm.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

Note to Journalists:Contact Kellie Hotz at 202-955-6222 or kholtz@spectrumscience.com for more information about the Tour, real-time updates on the Hope Rallies, or to schedule an interview with a team member. Full profiles of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope Team members, photos and other media resources are available at www.tourofhope.org.