Choose Your Own Adventure on Sunday, April 29 to Beat Cancer

March 20, 2012 - PRLog -- Not everyone can ride a bike like Lance Armstrong. Not everyone can run a marathon. But we can all do something to fight cancer on Sunday, April 29. For those that choose to run, walk or ride their bikes, gather at the Trinity Corners Shopping Center on Westchester Avenue in Pound Ridge, NY to participate in the 3rd Annual ROCK the RIDE & RUN. The ride will branch off into New Canaan, CT while the run will remain in Pound Ridge, NY.

"Although I prefer to ride my bike, I know so many people that want to do something to join the fight against cancer, so 3 years ago, the kids and I put this event together," Rica Mendes, LIVESTRONG Leader explains. "We wanted to make sure that everyone - regardless of their athletic ability - had the chance to participate and help us raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer."

This year is different for Mendes for a number of reasons. First, she has added a Virtual Participant category - this way, you register for $36, and you can choose to join the ROCK the RIDE & RUN anywhere - your home, your gym, the beach - anywhere in the world - and raise funds and awareness. Second, this is her first year participating as a cancer survivor.

Only 3 months after last year's ROCK the RIDE & RUN, Mendes got the word that she had breast cancer.

"I was floored. It came out of left field completely. Fortunately, I was already established within the LIVESTRONG network that it was much easier for me to build my support system. But it was still a struggle. I can only imagine how much more terrifying it is for people who don't already have that system in place.

"That's why this event, and support for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is even more important to me now. I don't ever want to hear about a cancer fighter feeling lost and like they have no place to go for any kind of resource - emotional, practical, physical, etc. LIVESTRONG does not discriminate - if you have cancer, you're automatically part of the family. It's just a matter of figuring out what we can do to help you and your family through your fight."

Registration is now open for the ROCK the RIDE & RUN. Go to http://www.active.com/5k-race/pound-ridge-ny/3rd-annual-r... between now and April 28, 2012 at 11:59pm EST in order to register.

If you cannot attend, but you would like to contribute to Rica's fight against cancer, please feel free to make a donation at http://laf.convio.net/goto/RicaRocksAustin2012.

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About the Lance Armstrong Foundation:
The Lance Armstrong Foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. We provide the practical tools and resources survivors need to live life on their own terms. Our goal is to create a fundamental change in the expectations and experience of living with cancer and to lead and sustain a survivorship movement to help eliminate suffering due to cancer. We believe that in the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. The LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and is located in Austin, TX.

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We believe in what LIVESTRONG represents and we do what we can, through fundraising, programming, riding, running and swimming, to raise awareness for the 28 million living with cancer today in the Fairfield County, CT & Westchester County, NY areas.