Rally Cycling Team Bikes to Benefit UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation Families
-
Custom-designed bikes, which represent UnitedHealthcare
Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) families from around the country, to be
auctioned off May 13-23 -
Proceeds to fund UHCCF medical grants that help families pay for
children’s medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by
commercial health insurance plans
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–At this year’s Amgen Tour of California, the Rally Cycling team will
ride eight custom-designed Diamondback Podium bikes that will be put up
for auction as part of the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation
(UHCCF) “Ride into Spring” fundraiser.
Each bike recognizes a child who has received a grant from UHCCF and
features the child’s signature and unique butterfly artwork representing
UHCCF and its dedication to helping children and families. The bikes are available
for bidding online Friday, May 13, through Monday, May 23, with the
goal of raising more than $75,000 to support funding of UHCCF medical
grants, which are awarded to families who need financial assistance to
help pay for their children’s health care treatments, services or
equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health
insurance plans.
The 2016 edition of the Amgen Tour of California will be the eighth time
competing in the event for the team, which is operated by Circuit Sport.
This year will be the team’s first Amgen Tour of California under the
banner of title sponsor Rally Health. Rally Health is a digital health
company that is working to reimagine consumer health engagement,
offering simple ways for people to navigate the complex health care
system, get access to care, and achieve their health and wellness goals.
“We are honored to receive this donation from the Rally Cycling team and
Circuit Sport, recognizing UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation grant
recipients as part of the Amgen Tour of California,” said UHCCF
President Matt Peterson. “The Tour provides a great opportunity to help
more families in need and get the word out that medical grants are
available for children and their families. We’ve already awarded more
than 10,000 grants to families and are aiming to help thousands of more
families in the years ahead.”
Christian Schima, 3, of North Fontana, Calif., will attend the first
stage of the Amgen Tour of California in San Diego May 15. Christian,
who has craniosynostosis, received a UHCCF grant for surgery to allow
his brain adequate room to grow and develop. The condition causes joints
in the skull to close before the brain is fully developed. The bikes,
riders and eight kids represented are:
Marcellus: Ridden by Will Routley for Christopher McGowan, 8,
Wallingford, Penn.
Ulysses: Ridden by Evan Huffman for Yszabehl and Ghabriel Stauffer, ages
14 and 10, Neosho, Mo.
Agamemnon: Ridden by Danny Pate for Marissa Bartels, 19, Delano, Minn.
Rumanzovia: Ridden by Jesse Anthony for Morgan Walters, 9, Pittsboro,
Ind.
Palawan: Ridden by Pierrick Naud for Bailey Coward, 16, Terry, Mich.
Monarch: Ridden by Emerson Oronte for Hope Lehto, 7, Frederick, Md.
Zalmoxis: Ridden by Adam de Vos for Christian Schima, 3, of North
Fontana, Calif.
Goliath: Ridden by Rob Britton for Jayden Williams, 9, Lexington, S.C.
In addition to the eight Rally Cycling bikes, other items for sale in
the auction include adult and youth bikes, accessories, youth helmets
and gift cards. All proceeds from the online auction will fund UHCCF
medical grants for children.
“The Amgen Tour of California is the premier cycling event in North
America, and is the perfect platform to showcase these incredible bikes
and highlight the great work of the UnitedHealthcare Children’s
Foundation,” said Circuit Sport Managing Director Charles Aaron. “We are
honored to be here in California, and hope this donation improves the
lives of the many children and families served by UHCCF.”
The 2016 edition of the Amgen Tour of California starts in San Diego
Sunday, May 15, and heads north through the Golden State ending in
Sacramento Sunday, May 22. The eight-day stage race includes two
mountain-top finishes, a time trial, and flat and rolling stages to
ensure a tough and exciting event. The first two stages finishing in San
Diego and Santa Clarita are well-suited for the sprinters, while stage
three ends atop the torturous Gibraltar Road outside Santa Barbara.
Stage four continues north for a rollercoaster finish on the Laguna Seca
raceway outside Monterey. The fifth, and toughest, stage of the 2016
Amgen Tour of California is a 130-mile trek with 6,600-feet of elevation
gain from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe. From South Lake Tahoe, the riders
move to Folsom for the stage six time trial. Stage seven finishes in
downtown Santa Rosa, and stage eight concludes in front of the Capitol
building in the heart of Sacramento.
Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded over 10,000 grants valued at more than $29
million to children and their families across the United States for
treatments associated with medical conditions such as cancer, spina
bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic
fibrosis, Down syndrome, ADHD and cerebral palsy. Qualifying UHCCF
families can receive up to $5,000 per grant with a lifetime maximum of
$10,000 per child to help pay for medical services and equipment such as
physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services,
surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing
aids.
For more information on UHCCF or to apply for a grant, please visit www.UHCCF.org.
About UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation
The
UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access
to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their
parents’ commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to
$5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do
not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be
eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded over
10,000 grants valued at more than $29 million to children and their
families across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by
contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE: UNH) employees. To apply for a grant, donate or learn more,
please visit www.UHCCF.org
.
About Rally Health, Inc.
Rally
Health, Inc. is a consumer-centric digital health company that makes it
easy for individuals to take charge of their health and wellness, and
collaborates with health plans, providers, and employers to drive
consumer health engagement. The company’s flagship offering is Rally®,
a digital health platform that offers a configurable suite of solutions
that help people manage their health and healthcare needs: Rally EngageSM
focuses on personalized health and wellness support; Rally ChoiceSM
is a health benefits marketplace; and Rally ConnectSM offers
provider search and cost transparency. More than 23 million consumers
have access to the Rally platform through payers such as
UnitedHealthcare, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Health
Alliance, and thousands of employer groups. With offices in Washington,
D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver, the team behind
Rally Health has been working together since 2010 to transform the
consumer health and wellness industry. For more information, please
visit www.RallyHealth.com.
About Circuit Sport
Circuit
Sport builds and executes modern engagement platforms within the dynamic
world of professional cycling. Our unique approach to team management
and marketing has set an international standard for over twenty years.
Our pro road racing team, Rally Cycling, is more than just a collection
of logos on a jersey – they are a real-time connection with a
passionate, involved global fan base. Get in touch to learn how we help
brands shine in the crowded world of sports marketing. circuitsport.com
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Contacts
UnitedHealthcare
Matt Rodriguez, 714-252-0479
matt.rodriguez@uhc.com
or
Circuit
Sport
Philip Booth, 602-481-6105
pbooth@circuitsport.com
