Group Health Rolls Out Cycling Support in 2005
SEATTLE, March 30 /PRNewswire/ — Group Health Cooperative today released its 2005 schedule of sponsored bicycling events held in communities throughout Washington state. This new list has grown from a lone title sponsorship for the Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (GHSTP) two years ago into multi-year support for recreational and competitive cycling events catering to tens of thousands of people.
“One in three Washington residents owns a bicycle,” said Matt Handley, MD, a Group Health family practice physician and GHSTP veteran. “We support cycling because, from childhood on, it’s one of life’s simple joys and a major outdoor activity in our region. Cycling is also one of the great exercises for promoting excellent overall health.”
Title sponsorships include the 8,000-rider GHSTP and the Group Health Commute Challenge, both organized by the Cascade Bicycle Club. New to this year’s schedule are Group Health Bicycle Saturdays & Sundays, run by the City of Seattle; Group Health Bicycle Camps for Kids; and the Group Health MS 150 Bike Tour. Beyond financial support, Group Health routinely provides first-aid volunteers, training and safety experts, and participating teams at events.
Group Health has also launched an extensive Cycling for Health Web site (http://www.ghc.org/cycling) with dozens of easy-to-read articles written by doctors who ride. Topics range from choosing the right bicycle to training for a big event. The site includes registration details for all Group Health-sponsored events.
Major regional cycling events
— May 1-31: Group Health Commute Challenge. Puget Sound area; company
teams compete for most bike commuters.
— May 15-September 18: Group Health Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays.
Seattle; Lake Washington route closed to cars; complete list of dates
available at http://www.ghc.org/cycling.
— May 20: WRQ Bike to Work Day, Group Health commute stop. Seattle;
Rainer Vista at Burke Gilman Trail (near University of Washington
Medical Center).
— May 20-August 26: Group Health Friday Night Races. Redmond; four race
categories at the Group Health Velodrome.
— June 4: Group Health MS Mountain Bike Challenge. Fall City; beginner,
intermediate, and advanced rides.
— June 18: Group Health Family Bike to RiverFest. Tri-Cities; families
from Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland can win prizes by biking to
RiverFest at Columbia Park.
— July 9-10: Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. One- or 2-
day ride; about 200 miles; mostly back roads.
— Sept. 3: REI Bellingham Traverse. Bellingham; part of 40-mile multi-
sport challenge.
— Sept. 10-11: Group Health MS 150 Bike Tour. Skagit, Whatcom, Island
counties; 50-175 mile routes.
— Sept. 17-18: Group Health Tour des Lacs. Spokane; two-day, easy to
difficult route options.
Group Health Cooperative
Founded in 1947, Group Health is a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that coordinates care and coverage. Based in Seattle, Group Health and Group Health Options, Inc., serve nearly 550,000 members in Washington and Idaho. Group Health’s commercial and Medicare plans have received the top rating of “Excellent” from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Group Health encompasses medical and specialty centers, hospitals (including a full service community hospital), a nationally recognized research center, and a charitable foundation. Group Health and Group Health Permanente (its multi-specialty medical group practice) combined employ nearly 10,000 staff, equivalent to Washington’s third largest private employer.
Group Health Cooperative
CONTACT: Patrick Bannon, +1-206-728-1100, Christopher Mulally,+1-206-448-6135, or Lee Tucker Therriault, +1-206-448-6135, all for GroupHealth Cooperative
Web site: http://www.ghc.org/