Breakaway from Cancer Joins the 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling as Presenting Sponsor for 2011

BREAKAWAY FROM CANCER© JOINS THE 5th ANNUAL DANA POINT GRAND PRIX OF CYCLING AS PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR 2011

DANA POINT, Calif. and THOUSAND OAKS, Calif, - Feb. 17, 2011 – New sponsor. New theme. New course. The same commitment to excellence.

The Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) is pleased to announce Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer© initiative as the new presenting sponsor for the 5th Annual Dana Point Grand Prix. Through Breakaway from Cancer (www.breakawayfromcancer.com), Amgen works with four non-profit partners - the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients, every step of the way. This year’s Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix has chosen the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart Lung Blood Institute in Los Angeles as a recipient of this year’s proceeds.

“Breakaway from Cancer was created out of the belief that just as in cycling where it takes a strong support team to break away from the pack; it also takes a team approach to fight cancer,” explained Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “We are proud to sponsor this year’s Dana Point Grand Prix and the many activities taking place at the event to recognize, honor and celebrate cancer survivors.”

Clare Cameron, Executive Director of the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart Lung Blood Institute (PHLBI) (www.pacificmesocenter.org) is excited about the new collaboration. “The Pacific Meso Center at PHLBI is pleased and proud to join with the Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix. We are thankful the City of Dana Point has opened up its beautiful downtown streets to bike racers and cancer survivors alike. We hope to see hundreds if not thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers and family members join us celebrate life in the ‘Breakaway Walk’ before the start of the Men’s Pro race.”

The national criterium race on Sunday, May 1st, will attract the nation’s top professional and amateur racers. This year the closed six turn criterium course will finish on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway (Del Prado) before throngs of fans. As in the past, the course winds through neighborhoods above the bluff overlooking beautiful Dana Point Harbor. The revamped course offers ample areas to view and cheer our nation’s top elite cycling athletes. Public, kids, amateur and pro races will race all day, from 7 am to 6 pm PT.

The Dana Point Grand Prix (DPGP) is now recognized as one of America’s premiere 1-day professional races, and has quickly gained accolades among athletes and sports fans as the best venue on the West Coast. In addition to offering world class action on the race course, the DPGP showcases music, a beer garden on the finishing stretch, a Fan Zone Expo area on the race course, In ‘n Out Burger, and new for this year, a Kids Zone. The kids races again promise to be a big hit for the entire family – don’t forget to bring your camera!

“Joining with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative,” said Russell Ames, Executive Director of the DPCCF, “has given us the momentum to work with cancer charities like the Pacific Meso Center at PHLBI. We are honored to use our bike race to serve a higher cause. Each of us has been touched in some way by cancer. It takes a team to tackle cancer and we feel good about opening up our streets to these courageous survivors.”

Roger Worthington, President of the DPCCF, who also doubles as the voice of the bike race, encourages everyone to come on down. “If you like fast action, good music, happy kids, carbon fiber, cheeseburgers, sensational craft beer and watching elite athletes push themselves beyond the limit, then you’re going to want to bring your friends and family down here for the whole day. Come to Dana Point and take home a great experience!”

Breakaway from Cancer will also be hosting a fundraising gala in Dana Point the Saturday night before the bike race. Stay tuned for further details.

For further information about the Pacific Meso Center, please contact:

For more information about the event, please visit: www.danapointgrandprix.com.

About Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling

USA Cycling, the governing body of professional and amateur competitive cycling in the U.S., created the National Racing Calendar (NRC) in 1997 as a series of the top 30 races throughout North America in prestigious cities as Washington DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dana Point to recognize top pro-level talent in America.

The Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling is organized by the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation with a mission of community cycling advocacy and growth. All proceeds will be donated to charity. In prior years, a portion of the proceeds from the race have been donated to the Dana Point Boys & Girls Club and the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.

About Breakaway from Cancer®

Founded in 2005 by Amgen as a complementary component to the company's title sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California, Breakaway from Cancer is designed to help empower people affected by cancer. Breakaway from Cancer supports the services of four nonprofit organizations: Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (formerly known as The Wellness Community), Patient Advocate Foundation, and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. For more information, please visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

CONTACT

Russ Ames
Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation
619-504-9977
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Leanne Madison
Amgen
805-447-1201
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