LIVESTRONG Challenge holds first Seattle event

Bands played while Survivor Power Stop volunteers supported participating cyclists

June 29, 2009 • By Christi Ball Loso

From left, Ashley Hulsey, Brian Tucker, Paul Camera, and M.J. Welling — From left, Ashley Hulsey, executive director of Development and event volunteer, breaks for photos with Brian Tucker and Paul Camera, members of the Starbucks Cycling Team, and volunteer M.J. Welling of the Center's Cancer Prevention Program. Photo by Georgia Congleton

Staff and volunteers of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program enjoyed a high profile at Seattle’s first LIVESTRONG Challenge on June 21. The event raised more than $1 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

The survivorship program sponsored the Survivor Power Stop at Day Street Park in Seattle, providing food, drink and support to almost 2,500 bicycle riders. Cancer survivors signed their names and inspirational messages on a special survivor banner. Two bands played live music and volunteers cheered for cyclists as they passed.

In addition to hosting the stop, the survivorship program hosted an informational booth Saturday and Sunday at the LIVESTRONG Challenge Village at the Seattle Center. The booth won the Best Community Partner Award at the event.

survivor banner — Cancer survivors left their names and inspirational messages on an event banner Photo by Carla Blakeman

The Challenge events, also held in California, Texas and Pennsylvania, are primary fundraisers for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In 2006, the foundation pledged $1.7 million to the Hutchinson Center to launch the survivorship program.

The survivorship program is one of eight LIVESTRONG Survivorship Centers of Excellence in the nation funded by the foundation.