CycleQuest Departs July 15, 2007

CycleQuest For Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Planned for July 15 – 23

Vail, Colorado to Hannibal, Missouri - 850 miles in nine days

Vail, Colo – Beginning July 15, Brad Wingate, a resident of Tempe, Arizona, is riding an 850-mile bicycling odyssey from Vail, Colorado to his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, to raise awareness of the subtle signs of a deadly disease – ovarian cancer.

The disease claimed the life of Brad’s wife, Susan DeFrank Wingate, in 2005.

Brad and his cycling team member Bob Lewis, a Mesa resident, depart from Vail on July 15 and is expected to arrive in the historic Northeast Missouri community of Hannibal on July 23.

Check out the ride’s progress by visiting www.cyclequest.blogspot.com. Updates will be posted during the ride.

“Ovarian cancer is insidious. It can be well advanced once the often-subtle symptoms are noticed. Early detection is key to saving lives. That’s why we’re riding, to alert families to the warning signs,” said Wingate.

Brad and Bob will ride more than 100 miles most days across the Heartland, largely following U.S. highway 36 through Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

Ovarian Cancer Whispers – So Please Listen
Ovarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs that produce eggs. A woman has a 1 in 67 chance of developing ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. The cause is unknown.

Older women are at highest risk. About two-thirds of the deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women age 55 and older. About 25% of ovarian cancer deaths occur in women between 35 and 54 years of age.

Ovarian cancer symptoms are often vague and non-specific; women and doctors may attribute the symptoms to other, more common, conditions. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, the tumor has often spread beyond the ovaries.

The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle:

· pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort;

· vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion;

· frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection;

· unexplained weight gain or weight loss;

· pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness;

· ongoing unusual fatigue;

· or unexplained changes in bowel habits.

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks ask your doctor for a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a CA-125 blood test, and transvaginal ultrasound.

A PAP Test will NOT detect ovarian cancer.

Brad, who did a similar ride in 2004 from Minneapolis to Hannibal, said cycling adventures renew his appreciation for America and its people. “We have a beautiful country and people basically are the same everywhere. I am always warmly welcomed wherever I ride,” Wingate said. “People are curious about my travels and many hold their own dreams of pursuing a similar adventure. I’m a big believer in following one’s dreams. We never know how much time we have left.”
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Media Advisory:
To schedule an interview and photo opportunity with Brad, please contact John Wingate at 612-782-8551 or via email at john(at)wingategroup.com.