GOVERNOR RITTER RIDES THE TRIPLE BYPASS WITH CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN CYCLING TEAM

Conquering the Triple Bypass and Raising Over $83,000 to Serve Foster Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Denver, CO) On Saturday, July 11, 2009 Governor Ritter joined the Champions for Children Cycling Team to tackle one of Colorado’s signature cycling events, the Triple Bypass. For four years the Champions for Children Cycling Team has completed the Triple Bypass to support abused and neglected children served by the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center. This year a team of 48 cyclists trained for 3 months and raised $83,765 to support the Children’s Law Center.

The Triple Bypass is a 120 mile ride from Evergreen to Avon over Squaw (11,140 ft.), Loveland (11,990 ft.), Swan Mountain and Vail (10,560 ft.) passes, with over 10,000 ft. of lung-busting gain in elevation. “Every cyclist knows that it is something to be proud of to ride the Triple Bypass. I am glad I could spend the day in the Rocky Mountains and raise awareness for this great cause at the same time” said Governor Ritter. “I have supported the Children’s Law Center since I was the Denver District Attorney. They have always provided exemplary legal advocacy for children in Colorado and helped guide improvements in our foster care system for many years” continued Ritter.

The Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center was founded in 1981 to fill a dramatic void in the legal representation of Colorado’s abused and neglected children. Since that time, the organization has evolved to meet the unique legal, educational, and mental health needs of this vulnerable population. Today, the Children’s Law Center protects and saves the lives of abused and neglected children and supplements its zealous legal advocacy with innovative programs and public policy reform.

“The Triple Bypass is symbolic of the struggles foster children face in their lifetimes. The children we serve have to fight many uphill battles. They need community support to survive” said Shari Shink, Founder and Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center.

Major sponsors of the Champions for Children Cycling Team include Petro-Canada, Newmont Mining, Origins Laboratory, ACI Services, Canyon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Weiser Engineering, Anabliss Design+ Brand Strategy, and Eye Candy Graphics. The Champions for Children Cycling Team will continue to fundraise through August 1st when several of the team members will complete the Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle. To make a donation, join the 2010 Cycling team or become a Champions for Children sponsor visit www.cfccycling.com.

To view additional photos from the Triple Bypass visit http://www.flickr.com/groups/championsforchildrencycling/

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For more information on the Champions for Children Cycling team and the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center contact:

Katie Facchinello

Development and Communications Manager
Rocky Mountain Childrens’ Law Center
Cell: (303) 246-2062
Email: kfacchinello@law.du.edu