May 6, 2008

Money raised through the 5th Central Virginia Bike Festival on Sunday, May 18, will benefit the Patient Support Fund of the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center.The festival, which includes 20, 40, 63, and 100-mile bike rides, also features music, food, prizes and fun. Registration and packet pickup will be Saturday, May 17, at Bikes Unlimited on Lakeside Drive. The festival will begin at 6:45 a.m. May 18 at the Forest Medical Complex, 100 Corporate Park Road, Forest.

The cancer center will open in June, and the support fund has been established to assure compassionate care for people with cancer at the time of their greatest need. This fund was initiated by physicians as a solution to meeting a variety of cancer patient’s needs, and it is being administered by our Centra Foundation.

Through the fund, physicians and staff will be able to provide immediate financial assistance to cancer patients who cannot afford to pay for support services and therapies. Donations to the fund will provide:

• Support for prosthesis, including wigs and breast prosthesis
• Nutritional supplements
• Home medical devices such as walkers, bedside commodes, wheelchairs and canes
• Support for transitional medicines that either the patient cannot afford or to keep the patient well while they wait for insurance to compensate
• Transportation to and from treatments or rehabilitation
• Support for community, patient and staff education programs

For more information or to make an online donation, visit  www.cvbikefestival.com .  You do not have to participate in the ride to make a donation.