Bianchi USA has announced its continued partnership with Young Survival Coalition (YSC), supporting their 2020 Survivor Bike Program.
“Working with YSC was one of the highlights of our Bianchi Dama Ambassador Team program in 2019. The partnership directly connected with our mission to get more people on bikes. Working with our retail partners, we delivered bikes that ultimately changed lives”, commented Heather Mason, Program Coordinator. Mason notably was awarded this year’s “Service Award” from YSC for her work in contribution organizing the partnership.
YSC Tour de Pink is in its 16th year and consists of two three-day bike rides in the East and West regions with approximately 250 riders riding in each ride. Over one-third of riders are breast cancer survivors, while others are co-survivors, friends, and supporters.
The YSC Tour de Pink Survivor Bike Program provides bikes free of charge to young adults facing breast cancer. By providing these bikes, Bianchi is providing an opportunity to support young breast cancer survivors who would otherwise be unable to afford to ride in Tour de Pink.
“Being diagnosed with breast cancer shrank my world. Before cancer I was fiercely independent, but cancer meant I had to rely on others more than ever before...something that was incredibly difficult for me. Signing up for this ride was a step in regaining my spirit. Being given this bike means that I am out in the world exploring the trails in my city, meeting people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, sharing my story and hopefully inspiring others. I feel like a kid again when I am riding my heart soars, my mind clears, and I leave the stress behind me. I feel like I am living again.” – Abbie, 2019 survivor bike recipient
The Dama Ambassador Team will be raising donations through a dedicated webpage (yscchampions.org/SurvivorBikes) to purchase bicycles which will then be awarded to cancer survivors in May 2020. The Dama team members will join the recipients in October to ride alongside and serve as ride marshals at the East and West Coast Events. The East Coast ride begins on October 2nd in Princeton, New Jersey. The West Coast ride begins in Thousand Oaks, California, on October 23rd. See more and join the ride at www.ysctourdepink.org.
“Bianchi USA is proud of our Dama Ambassador Team for their work in partnership of the Survivor Bike program. The team continues to find ways to be truly impactful; working with events, retailers and community organizations to introduce more people to cycling. It has been great to watch the program develop.” added Jim Stevenson, VP Marketing and Sales, Bianchi USA.
Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the nation’s foremost nonprofit dedicated to providing information, resources, and support to young adults affected by breast cancer. YSC Tour de Pink (TDP) is a three-day charity bike ride where breast cancer survivors and supporters of the cause ride together to raise funds and awareness for young adults affected by breast cancer. This ‘rolling community’ enables YSC to offer a wide variety of programming and support to the 250,000 women living in U.S. today who were diagnosed before their 41st birthday. The rides are expected to raise close to $1.2 million this year alone. Information on Young Survival Coalition: https://www.youngsurvival.org/.
Information on making a donation via the Bianchi Dama Ambassador team can be obtained through program Coordinator Heather Mason; heather@bianchiusa.com.
