Sonoma Gran Fondo exceeds 2,000

On Saturday May 12th nearly 1,600 cyclists and 1,000 spectators descended on the Sonoma downtown Plaza for Echelon’s third annual Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo. Amgen Tour of California’s teams Garmin Barracuda and Team Exergy with local favorite, Freddie Rodriquez, headed up the fondo. It was a theatrical mass start ride that rode out of the Sonoma square with a full police escort and helicopter flying overhead. Afterwards all riders were treated to a festival with delicious local food, Sierra Nevada beer, and Echelon Vineyards wine.  Throughout the ride, CHP held traffic at all major intersections.  “It was amazing," participant Garret Duncan said, “I felt like I was riding in the Tour de France only at a safe and comfortable pace. Also great food and plenty of it."

Team Garmin Rider, Tom Danielson at the Sonoma Fondo

“Having Team Garmin was a big attraction this year as was the introduction of Charity of Choice, which allows any charity to become a beneficiary by having a team which fundraises on their behalf. Collectively over $75,000 was raised, benefiting over 60 local charities,” Echelon’s director Hunter Ziesing explained.  

Team Garmin Director, Jonathan Vaughters during the National Anthem Saturday

Ziesing commented that he would keep the Sonoma start in 2013 but include more parts of Napa adding a possible second start in Santa Rosa.  Echelon hopes to combine its event with ATOC in 2013 to produce a super sized cycling festival in Sonoma, Santa Rosa, and Napa. Ziesing is also petitioning for near full road closure so that Echelon can run the gran fondo ride plus a fully sanctioned race at the same time.  "With the strong community support we have received and local charities behind us, we think we have a shot at including sanctioned amateur USAC bike races that will run in front of the gran fondos.” 


A bike racer himself, Ziesing said that mass start rides are becoming more popular in the US and they are generally less disruptive than all day staggered century rides. "They are also more fun and give club and recreational riders the adrenaline rush of what is like to ride in a grand tour," he enthused.


Ziesing would like to see more events/races closer to population bases. "Most amateur bike racing teams have tons of club riders and family members who don’t want to race so the fondo, which would leave just after the racers, is a good fit for them. You also get great food, entertainment, and something for the family and don't have to drive 30 miles east of Interstate 5 to do enjoy it." 


Ziesing is adamant about merging the sport of recreational riding and racing plus making it safe. Last year he convinced county officials in Napa and Palo Alto for full rolling road closures along parts of the courses, something you only see at the Tour of California. "It was not that difficult," he said. "Everything we do is about local community including staff, gear, and food sourcing as well as notification and participation. My favorite story is our offer to move our start time 15 minutes for a local resident who had a hair appointment. She later caved and just came down, joined the festival and make a donation to one of the charities."

The 2012 Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo Start more...

 

Sonoma Valley Hospital endorses Sonoma Fondo

A community message from Sonoma Valley Hospital

Many of you will start by asking "What is a Gran Fondo?".  For many years Americans have called them "fun rides" or "benefit rides", but in the past few years we've adopted the Italian term "Gran Fondo"  which simply means "big ride".  On Saturday, May 12 Sonoma will host just such an event called the Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo.  If all goes well, it will put Sonoma on the map as a great host city for this nationally recognized cycling event.  In order for that to happen, we need all of you to participate.

This ambitious event will be put on by the Z Echelon group to raise money for your Charity of Choice, their new system in which riders who sign up are able to select and support their preferred charity.  By paying to sign up outright or by raising funds by enlisting support from friends and associates participants gain entry into the event.  So far, the list of participants and charities to be supported is growing and people are coming from all over to ride and support their teams. We want to make sure Sonoma is well represented and that all Sonoma charities – not just Sonoma Valley Hospital – have teams riding and raising money for them.

We at Sonoma Valley Hospital are proud to be the “host charity” for this event because it is a way for every charity in town to have a team of riders and donors to raise money for their cause while having a great time.  We consider this event a real gift to the community and Sonoma Valley Hospital is proud to have been influential in bringing it to you.

The idea for this remarkable event came during an early morning change-of-shift chat in the Emergency Department at SVH.  One of us (RC) had the germ of an idea for an event that SVH could host and in doing so give back to our community which as given so much to us.  One of us (again, RC) happened to know that the other (PS) is well connected in the world of bicycle racing.  So a few phone calls, emails, and meetings later, the Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo hosted by Sonoma Valley Hospital was born.

Our first task was to convince Z Echelon founder Hunter Zeising, who has a passion for raising money for health related causes, to hold the race in Sonoma this year.  We assured him that the generous community of Sonoma would come out in force for a cycling event that would be fun, raise the profile of Sonoma, and raise money for multiple local charities while filling the town with food, fun and music and the excitement of great cyclists storming through the streets. 

For those of you who follow pro bicycle racing, an extra added feature will be the participation of the Garmin-Barracuda Professional Cycling Team winners of the 2011 Tour de France team competition (they just happen to be starting the Tour of California in Santa Rosa the next day).  There will even be an SVH fund raiser dinner on Thursday, May 10 hosted by the enigmatic Garmin-Barracuda team owner Jonathan Vaughters.  Tickets for the dinner are available at:  https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15431

So now’s your chance to prove us right!  We can all participate (whether you're a cyclists or not) in a variety of ways such as volunteer, team leader, donor to a team, or as a fun-loving participant during the day.

For those of you who'd like to ride, you don’t have to be a pro to have fun.  Three distances are offered - 11 miles, 50 miles and 75 miles – so even the casual cyclist has the opportunity to ride and raise funds for a charity here in Sonoma.

If you’d like to explore the event and form your own team or ride on another team, go to: http://www.echelongranfondo.org/index.html

If you’d like to have a look at the list of the 46 teams formed so far representing 46 charities go to: https://ssl.charityweb.net/echelongranfondo/event/napa.htm

You’ll see the list of ways to sign up, including a pull down menu of all the charities through which you can support a team by donating. So far, the charities in Sonoma include: the WillMar Family Grief and Healing Center, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, City of Sonoma Pedal Pushers, Sonoma Hospice By The Bay, and Pets Lifeline.

If you’d like to ride on the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation team, or to make a donation in honor of those riding on our behalf, please visit:

https://ssl.charityweb.net/echelongranfondo/napa/sonomavalleyhospitalfoundation.htm. 

If you just like fun and excitement and want to get in the midst of it all by volunteering, we’re also looking for volunteers to help make the whole thing work.  To sign up is easy.  Go to: http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa/index.html and click on "Volunteers" on the left column. This will give you a whole list of positions that need to be filled such as:

•     Registration - Saturday, from 7-9 AM at the Sonoma Plaza, downtown

•     Expo Support at the Expo at the Plaza (shifts posted on the web page)

•     Parking and Traffic Safety – 7-10:30

•     Food Service at the Expo on the Plaza (shifts posted on the web page)

•     Rest Stop Supports (see locations and times on the web page)

•     First Aid

•     •SAG (Support and Gear) Driver

Whatever you do, it’s all in the spirit of fun and giving. So come out and help us make Sonoma a memorable host for this exciting event.

Robert Cohen, MD

Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Physician

Sonoma Valley Hospital

Prentice Steffen, MD

Emergency Physician

Sonoma Valley Hospital

Garmin Slipstream to ride Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo

Garmin-Barracuda Team Members to lead out the Echelon Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo

Registration is now open. 

SONOMA, CA - For the third year, the Echelon Gran Fondo is back in the wine country announcing a new start/finish in Sonoma, just 21 miles from the start of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC).  In honor of Sonoma Valley Hospital and Charity of Choice, Team Garmin-Barracuda will support the event including passing near the start of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC) that begins in Santa Rosa the next day.

The Gran Fondo will start at 9 AM on May 12, 2012 with 11 (super mini kids fondo), 50 and 75 mile ride options that include parts of the Napa Valley. “We are really excited about having Team Garmin-Barracuda support the event this year as well as our Sonoma start,” said Echelon’s event director, Michael Sexton.“ The new course is outstanding and includes northern parts of Napa Valley that we could not get to last year such as the Dry Creek, Mt Veeder and Trinity grade.”  The Garmin-Barracuda team, which captured the Best Team classification at the 2011 ATOC and placed Tom Danielson on the podium with 3rd overall, will be there for the ceremonial start and will lead out the fondo just a day before they begin the 5th annual ATOC. At the ATOC, 18 professional bike teams including Garmin-Barracuda will compete in an eight-day stage race that finishes in Southern California. 

Team Garmin-Barracuda is the top American professional cycling team dedicated to ethical sport and developing the next generation of cycling champions. Since its inception the team has placed riders in the top 10 of the Tour de France, and in the 2011 edition, the team placed the top American in the race (Tom Danielson, 9th overall), won the Team Time Trial, captured a total of four stage wins, held the yellow jersey for eight days, and won Best Team Overall. 

“We look forward to the Amgen Tour of California every year, and this year is extra special because we are excited to take part in the Gran Fondo to raise funds for local community partnerships and Charity of Choice,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO, Slipstream Sports. 

Garmin Corporation has been a title sponsor of the Echelon Gran Fondo series since its inception and donates merchandise including the Garmin Edge 500 and 800 GPS cycling computers to top fundraisers.

Media Contacts:

Team Garmin-Barracuda

Marya Pongrace

Email: Marya.pongrace@slipstreamsports.com 

U.S. Mobile: 347-698-3412

Sonoma Napa Gran Fondo

Sonoma/Napa CA Gran Fondo--Saturday May 12
The Napa gran fondo will now feature a new start/finish in the town of Sonoma, just 21 miles from the start of the Amgen Tour of California professional bike race (TOC). This exciting new course will include some great new climbs and scenic parts of the wine country, as well as a to be announced very special guest of honor pro team that will ride along side of you.

Registration opens Jan 16. Stay tuned for info.

 

Napa - post event release

RESULTS ARE IN: ECHELON NAPA GRAN FONDO NAPA

SETS THE STAGE FOR 2011 SERIES

Next stop – A thrilling course including a 17-mile climb up Washington States Olympic Peninsula's famous Hurricane Ridge at the July 23rd Echelon Seattle Gran Fondo

(Napa, CA – May 26, 2011) – The clouds parted ways as the helicopter hovered over the starting line of downtown Napa’s Main Street for the 2^nd annual Echelon Gran Fondo. Nearly 1000 cyclists lined up to experience the first ever police escorted road-enclosure down ten miles of the famous Napa Valley Silverado Trail.  From the fanfare at the start of the festival, the organizers of Echelon focused their efforts on creating an exclusive “Hollywood meets the hills of Napa Valley” cycling experience for individuals, participants and their fundraising teams.

The Napa Valley event, open to all levels and abilities of cyclists, allowed participants the choice to sign up as strictly paying participants or fundraisers in which monies go to the Queen of the Valley Cancer Center in Napa, the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center located on the campus of St. Helena Hospital and the Napa Valley Vine Trail, an important non-profit organization dedicated to implementing a 44 mile multi-use trail from Calistoga to Vallejo, California.

Team Clydesdales, a three-man crew, was recognized as the top fundraising team with Endurance PTC as a close second, which had recruited over 40 people for their Echelon team. Pine Ridge Vineyards was this year’s leading fundraising winery followed by Team Chappellet, and Castello di Amorosa. TRIMORE Fitness and Fusion Sport were also recognized for their efforts that spanned both fundraising and event promotion. Along with the over 45 teams, several cancer-survivor participants were called out during the starting line ceremony.

“Our goal is to give people an out of the box cycling experience, reward those that put in their personal time fundraising before the event, and recognize those that cancer has directly impacted. Combining a traditional Gran Fondo with a Charity ride does offer complexities, but at the end of the day we were very pleased with the outcome given that we wanted to keep this an intimate and exclusive experience,” commented Executive Director, Hunter Ziesing.

As in year one, after the timed 4 mile hill climb on Napa Valley’s Ink Grade, a 20 piece Jazz band from Napa High was stationed to greet the riders and the renowned Culinary Institute of America was set up to provide a healthy dose of carbohydrates. The event’s signature icon, the Angel of Echelon, moved along the entire course inspiring those to keep pedaling and stopping for photos with her fans. The event’s festival featured Napa Valley wineries, Sierra Nevada beer and a smorgasbord of culinary dishes from the Model Bakery, The Napa General Store, Three Twins Ice Cream and others.

The Echelon entourage has now turned its sights north to the Seattle area’s Olympic Peninsula in which they are staging another first-ever cycling experience – up the famed Hurricane Ridge. The event offers spectacular 30, 70, and 100 courses and limited entrants to their Super Gran Fondo course, a one-way ticket to a first time 100 mile ride summiting Hurricane Ridge. For more information about the July 23^rd event, visit http://www.echelongranfondo.org/seattle

About PlanetZ/Echelon:

PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org

Way to go Endurance PTC

Endurance PTC is a local training facility in Marin CA who has put together one hell of a cast for the Napa Gran Fondo . Check out this participation.

https://ssl.charityweb.net/echelongranfondo/napa/enduranceptc.htm

Join their team if you are looking for one.

Registration/Event Guide

Our registration is approaching 650 and we sell out at 1,000

The Napa Event Guide is now up (see above on the nav bar or click here)

http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa/napa_event_handbook.html

Go test your times on Ink Grade now and post your results on STAVA.com

https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/evaluate.rnav/pidcxa5L2VJ1oQv8q9lvgmt1781

Registration/Event Guide

Our registration is approaching 650 and we sell out at 1,000

The Napa Event Guide is now up (see above on the nav bar or click here)

http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa/napa_event_handbook.html

Go test your times on Ink Grade now and post your results on STAVA.com

https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/evaluate.rnav/pidcxa5L2VJ1oQv8q9lvgmt1781

Back in Wine Country in 2011

Echelon is back to Napa in 2011 with more of the same cuisine, wine, beer and a great festival. We are also moving to a Saturday vs Sunday to increase the party atmosphere.  Look for a longer rolling road enclosure as well as a few more roads in and around the wineries.

Registration for the ride and run opens in early January.

Echelon expansion cities announced

For Immediate Release:

ECHELON GRAN FONDO SERIES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS FOR 2011 AND BEYOND.

Targeting communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, and Washington DC.

(San Francisco, CA – August 17, 2010) – The Echelon Gran Fondo Cycling Series by PlanetZ/Echelon, a non-profit organization that benefits cancer research and survivor support, has announced intentions to increase their program to additional markets in 2011 and beyond.  Echelon, a unique series designed for cyclists of all levels, combines riding, racing, and fundraising, along with what the organizers call a “Tour de France-like frivolity” to offset the serious nature of fundraising. Echelon has produced smaller charitable events since 2005 with cycling celebrities Eddy Merckx, Bob Roll, and Frankie Andreu, and this past May produced its first Gran Fondo in Napa, CA.

Based on the success of the Napa event and strong participation levels at the forthcoming September Hood River, OR event featuring Chris Horner of Team RadioShack®, the Echelon Gran Fondo will enter Arizona, the Rocky Mountain Region, Washington DC, Manhattan/Southern Connecticut, and the Stanford area/Palo Alto markets. According to David Cochran, Director of Operations for Echelon, “Not only have certain cycling-oriented communities come forward and asked us to create a Gran Fondo for them such as groups from the New York Tri-states area, but we also have pursued locations such as Tucson (Tucson Echelon Gran Fondo) and Palo Alto (Palo Alto Echelon Gran Fondo) both of which have tremendous health oriented demographics and highly specialized cancer research universities where we have developing relationships. Specific to Colorado, with the recent introduction of the 2011 Quiznos® Pro Challenge cycling tour in Colorado, there is a logical fit for us to give fans their own challenge and support the local community.” The Echelon team also anticipates partnering with a key events operator for a Washington DC Gran Fondo; this would occur in conjunction with the Prologue stage of the Giro slated to start in the Capitol city in 2012.

What makes the Echelon event distinct from other charity-based cycling rides is the ride itself, or what Echelon’s Executive Director Hunter Ziesing calls “theater on the roads” –where cyclists are treated to an experience of riding in a grand tour for the day. At an Echelon event, a rider can expect announcers, balloons, cheerleaders, helicopters, live music, marching bands, epicurean treats, and a cast of characters typically found on Alpe d’Huez.  Additionally, and fundamental to the both the fundraising efforts and the ride is the integration of sponsor partners. (Sponsors for the 2010 series are Capo, Skins, Garmin, Hammer Nutrition and Bicycling Magazine). According to Ziesing, “Activation of our sponsor partners is a critical ingredient of offering an outstanding experience, fundraiser awards, as well as lowering our cost ratios. We are now in dialogue with potential national partners who recognize the platform we have created for brand immersion in the worlds of health, healing and fitness.”

Echelon’s national beneficiary is LIVESTRONG® but unique to the Echelon model is their heavy focus on partnerships with local hospitals that have cancer specific clinics or foundations. “Fundraising is not for everyone and it is optional, but we offer all levels of cyclists the opportunity to raise money for the fight against cancer, reap rewards from their efforts, and have an unbelievable day on some of the most beautiful roads in this country,” commented Ziesing.

For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org

About PlanetZ/Echelon:

PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. 

Media Contact: Rebecca Kotch

Email: Rebecca@rebeccakotch.com

Phone: 323.806.5900

Napa Net Donation Increased

Due to better cost efficiency plus receiving a few more donations, Echelon is increasing its net donation to $62,500 from $50,000 initially (story below). Thank you to all participants and fundraisers and special thanks to Silver Oak Cellars and their team.

                    Chuck McMinn (center), Napa Valley Vine Trail/St Helena board member
                     David Duncan (right), Silver Oak Cellars CEO/St Helena board member

David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak Cellars

ECHELON GRAN FONDO DELIGHTS A CROWD OF 700 CYCLISTS AND CONFIRMS VICTORY FOR THIS INAUGURAL EVENT

Praise from all for the May 23^rd Echelon Gran Fondo in Napa Valley as event reaffirms accomplishment of a community focused fundraising event

(Napa, CA – June 3rd, 2010) – The all-star weather conditions set the stage for this first time and first of a kind Gran Fondo produced by Echelon/PlanetZ in Napa Valley. The starting line resembled the beginning line up of a Tour de France stage, featuring the Yellow, Polk-a-dot, Green, and other colored jersey’s, which designated the levels of dollars the participants raised in their efforts to support the event’s beneficiaries. Fundraising Teams such as the world-renowned Silver Oak Winery boasted their custom-logoed Yellow Jersey, while others joined in force in their team kits.

The Napa Valley event, open to all levels and abilities of cyclists, and was focused on raising dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, LIVESTRONG®, Queen of the Valley Cancer Center in Napa, and the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center located on the campus of St. Helena Hospital. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Napa Valley Vine Trail and their important grassroots efforts to implement a multi-use trail from Calistoga to Vallejo.

The event, intended to offer a cycling experience beyond the expected, or what Executive Director, Hunter Ziesing has claimed, “theater on the roads”, the 700 plus participants were welcomed by a cast of characters and stunts designed to give racers and recreational cyclists a day to remember. The Angel of Echelon, a Borat-inspired character, a photographer’s helicopter hovering over the start, a hot air balloon, and cheerleaders added to the buzz and exhilaration of the cyclists’ day. 

Along with the on course entertainment – a Jazz band was stationed at the peak of the four mile hill climb - and gourmet cuisine, such as sandwiches from the famed Culinary Institute of America, the event itself was structured as a partnership model between the donors, volunteers, corporate partners and charitable recipients. “Our goal was to create a uniquely fulfilling experience for our participants and a significant contribution to worthy, local programs. Everyone gives…and everyone receives,” said Ziesing. According to Ziesing, ninety percent of the event’s expenses went to local merchants, with an additional several thousand dollars in donation to the Napa Food Bank.

David Cochran, the event’s Chief Operating Officer commented, “We have been very please by the continual positive feedback from the participants, and how our team, though limited in size, was able to pull off this new breed of event. While we had some minor glitches such as the size of our signage and our delayed start time, all in all we are encouraged by the momentum this will bring to future Echelon events.” 

With little funding from corporate sponsorship, early indication is that Echelon will make a significant donation to its beneficiaries. “Based on this level of success, we know that in 2011 along with increased participants and corporate sponsorship, we will be able to offer even a more substantial amount to our beneficiaries,” said Ziesing. The Echelon team now turns their creative efforts towards their next event, September 26^th in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge featuring pro-cyclist, Team RadioShack’s® Chris Horner.

Results and Photos

RESULTS
Results for Napa Gran Fondo
(note: 30, 36, and 100 times are not listed separately. Sorry if the times are not all there and sorted. We had a lot of difficulty with orchestrating this timing system and are sorting this out with our vendor.)

Photo Links

David Cochran on Facebook

Echelon on Shutterfly

Photocrazy

Napa Registration and Event Details

PACKET PICK UP INFORMATION (including fundraiser awards/jerseys)
1. Saturday at the Queen of the Valley Hospital-Synergy Wellness Center in Napa  3 PM until 6 PM
     Address for your GPS - 3421 Villa Lane, Napa CA 94558-3056.

2. Sunday at the day of event--at the Napa County Fairgrounds (opens at 6:30 AM)
    Address for your GPS: 600 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94559

START TIMES/DAY OF EVENT PARKING (downtown Napa)
Address to put in your GPS: 600 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94559
Parking is only a block from the start on 3rd and Main in downtown Napa.

6:30 AM: Registration opens 600 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94559
7:30 AM: Line up/Pre ride staging begins  3rd Street and Main, Napa CA 94559

7:45 AM: Pre Ride Ceremony begins

7:55 AM: Special jersey and fundraiser team call outs at will start promptly

8:28 AM: National Anthem

8:30 AM: RIDE start gun

9:30 AM: Run start gun

Swag bags: Conspicuously absent will be swag bags.  This is not to save money but to minimize the trash factor and to give you what you deserve: Great food, wine, beer, and on course entertainment. Our goal is offer a fun and frivolous day. Look forward to seeing you there and supporting our beneficiaries!

Credentials: You will be given a white armband and must wear it on your left wrist for the ride. You will receive a food arm band when you enter the Expo area. Your kids eat free and any of your guests may purchase a food/beer/wine festival arm band at a low cost.

Chip Timing: You will be given an electronic chip and we will track your start/finish time as well as those doing the hill climb challenges (60 and 100 milers).  (it is actually 68 miles, FYI)

T-Shirts: We are working up some now to give to any or all participants but per above, are not stuffing bags. Just grab one from our registration table if you want one.

Comment: This is a first time event for us of this size. Please be patient if things don't go perfectly. We will have a public forum for your comment after the event.  Please be cool on this ride and have fun. Be safe and cognizant of motorists. Light it up on the Ink Grade climb. It is steep and 4.5 miles long.

Fundraising Fodder - Three Great Stories!

We know it’s not easy to ask for money, especially in these times, but let us share with you three inspirational stories from our very own Echelon Gran Fondo participants.

Story #1: Team Crankmasters – This is way more than beginners luck!
Team Crankmasters is a group of close friends that work in the financial industry, and on a whim they decided to take up cycling just one month ago! When they stumbled upon our event, it was a perfect match. All the team members had a cancer story and felt our cause was one they could easily support. This new team sent messages to their friends and family announcing their participation and why the cause is important to them. Three weeks later, they have collectively achieved their $3,000 goal and continue to get contributions, exceeding their own lofty expectations.

Story #2: Don Pontes – A winning individual for sure!
I met Don at a bike race a few weeks ago. He was intrigued by the event and said to himself, – “I can do this – I can fundraise.” Though cancer had not struck Don, it had affected his family, and he was very familiar with how LIVESTRONG™ had become a major resource to them. Don crafted personal messages as to why he decided to do this benefit event and began to send out his email story to friends. He also would pick up the phone as a more personal way to ask for money. The net-net is that his average donations are $200 and within three weeks, Don has raised $6,565! His secret sauce was making the message personal and expressing why the event is important to him.

Story #3: David Duncan – A taste of success!
When I had the opportunity to visit David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak Cellars in Napa, I could not help noticing photos of Lance Armstrong on his wall. Lance is Armstrong rumored to have more interest in wine than riding when he visited Napa. David Duncan is also a huge LIVESTRONG™ supporter and offered to put up a team for Echelon. While David started with a most admirable fundraising goal and is personally at $10,000 his intention was more to get his employees and his wine buddies to join his team. He has succeeded. Silver Oak has over 25 riders now who are together approaching $20,000.

Remember, fundraising for Echelon is not mandatory but it is easy. Whether you raise just the minimum $125, or thousands, it is all greatly appreciated! Please do try.

All you need to do is find your name in our system (assuming you registered as a fundraiser) and send your link around to some friends with a short personal note. If you are not registered as a fundraiser and want to try, we will set up your page for you at no cost.

THE ANGEL OF ECHELON HAS RISEN

For Immediate Release:

THE ANGEL OF ECHELON RISES FOR THE INAUGURAL ECHELON GRAN FONDO SERIES – NAPA VALLEY, MAY 23RD

Angel serves dual role of inspiring the cancer community and encouraging cycling fundraisers on the Napa Gran Fondo course.

(San Francisco, CA – April 16th, 2010) – With the focus on fundraising for LIVESTRONG® and local cancer institutions, Queen of the Valley Hospital and the Martin O’Neil Cancer Center, organizers of the Echelon Gran Fondo series have resurrected a known figure in the world of professional cycling, and soon to be known to many more in the cancer centered hospital communities where the Echelon rides will occur  – the Angel of Echelon.  The Angel, formerly known as the Specialized® Angel, popular to both the cyclists and fans, has been restored and restyled to emulate a protector and healer while still maintaining her celebrated allure and charisma. 

The real life angel, California native Jana Ireton, began her career in the service sector as a nurse and is all too familiar with the emotional toils of working in hospitals. “When I was asked to bring back the Angel, I was thrilled, as I know the cycling fans liked this character and it was also great to simply energize the peloton. Now I have the chance to take the Angel to a different level, and work with the Echelon beneficiary partners and spread good will and encouragement to those who need it the most,” stated Ireton.

Echelon Event Director, Hunter Ziesing, has said that this particular series will emulate more the fanfare of the Tour De France, than the Italian heritage of Gran Fondos. “The angel character serves a dual role: one to inspire and support those off the bike and the other to captivate and cheer those on the bike,” said Ziesing. Ziesing has explained that other lively and unexpected characters will be on course cheering the riders along.

The Echelon series is designed as a partnership between the local beneficiaries who donate their time, and the donors who are focused on raising money for cancer initiatives. The key event sponsors - Garmin®, Louis Garneau®, Hammer Nutrition®, Capo®, Skins™, Bicycling Magazine and 1440 KVON- have donated product and services, of which will be rewarded to the fundraisers. 

The Echelon Napa cycling event will begin at 8:30am at Napa’s Veteran’s Park. Shortly after the cyclists depart much of downtown Napa will be closed for the inaugural Echelon 5k Run/Walk benefiting the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and beginning at 9:30am. A fun run for kids under 12 will take place after the 5K run. Deadline for team and individual registration is May 16, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa.

Hospitals Join Forces

QUEEN OF THE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER AND ST. HELENA HOSPITAL JOIN FORCES IN THE INAUGURAL NAPA VALLEY ECHELON GRAN FONDO BIKE RIDE AND RUN ON MAY 23^RD, 2010

Both hospitals will be the beneficiaries of this community cancer awareness event

(Napa, CA – March 10, 2010) – PlanetZ/Echelon set its sight on the stunning landscape of Napa Valley for launching its first Gran Fondo Series cycling event and fun run designed to attract both local and tourist fitness enthusiasts. The event, open to all levels and abilities of cyclists and runners, is focused on raising funds for the Queen of the Valley Cancer Center in Napa, and the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center located on the campus of St. Helena Hospital. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Napa Valley Vine Trail and their important grassroots efforts to implement a multi-use trail from Calistoga to Vallejo.

“This event will not only be a lot of healthful fun for our community but the event will provide a terrific, ongoing benefit for Napa area cancer patients in the years ahead. We are encouraging our employees and community members to sign up, participate and volunteer during the event,” said Dick Green, Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Queen of the Valley Medical Center Foundation.

Executive Director of PlanetZ/Echelon Hunter Ziesing explains, “We stage events relying on a unique partnership with donors, volunteers, corporate partners and charitable recipients. Our goals are to create a uniquely fulfilling experience for our participants and a significant contribution to worthy, local programs. Everyone gives…and everyone receives.”

Elaine John, President and CEO of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation commented, “We are so proud of our advanced comprehensive cancer treatment center, and we continuously look for opportunities to drive awareness as well as philanthropic support for this new facility. This event melds perfectly for us; from a pure wellness perspective, we can activate our employees to sign up for the event, and we can solicit our community to participate in what is sure to be a memorable fitness experience as well as a significant source of revenue to support high-level cancer care in our region.”

The cycling event will start 8:30am at Napa’s Veteran’s Park. Shortly after the cyclists depart much of downtown Napa will be closed for the inaugural Echelon 5k Run/Walk benefit, beginning at 9:30am. A fun run for kids under 12 will take place after the 5K run. Deadline for team and individual registration is May 16, 2010. To register as a team or as an individual for the May 23^rd Gran Fondo, or for more information, visit http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa.

About Queen of the Valley Medical Center

Queen of the Valley Medical Center is a 191-bed, acute-care facility founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Rated by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's Best Hospitals, the Queen is the largest health care facility and one of the largest employers in Napa County. Services provided include: a Regional Heart Center, a Regional Orthopedic Center, a Cancer Center approved with commendations by the American College of Surgeons, a Women’s Center, maternity and infant care, inpatient and outpatient minimally invasive surgery, occupational health, and full-service emergency department, among many other specialty services. For more information, visit www.thequeen.org

About St. Helena Hospital

St. Helena Hospital serves Napa, Lake, Solano, Sonoma and Mendocino counties with a comprehensive range of cardiovascular, cancer, emergency, medical, surgical and behavioral health care services. The new Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center is a 12,500-square-foot facility dedicated to outpatient cancer care using the most advanced technology and a commitment to whole-person care. It is part of the Johnson Pavilion, which was funded by $36 million in community contributions and includes the Trinchero Surgery Center. For more information, visit www.napavalleycancercare.org or www.sthelenahospital.org