Tykes on Trikes Helped Kick Off the Tour of Long Beach at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Tykes from the Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center gave each other encouragement before the big trike race commenced.

A crowd gathered in front of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach to see tykes with cancer and serious blood disorders racing their trikes around the length of Miller Children’s circular driveway to help kick-off the 2012 Tour of Long Beach and BikeFest taking place in downtown Long Beach on Saturday, May 5. Proceeds from the Tour of Long Beach and BikeFest benefit the patients and families at JJCCC.

Pediatric patients battling cancer and other serious blood disorders from the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children’s raced professional cyclist and 2000 U.S. Olympian, Tony Cruz, Ramesh Patel, M.D., one of their pediatric hematologist/oncologist and Divya Joshi, M.D., MMM, CPE, FAAP, chief medical officer at Miller Children’s. Mayor Bob Foster called out the race as the kids broke through a “Finish Line” banner – needless to say the patients beat the adults fair and square in the race.

“This is a great opportunity to get the best views of our city, as the Tour of Long Beach shows off our ocean views and our unique neighborhoods,” says Mayor Bob Foster. “The Tour is not only a lot of fun but it’s all for a wonderful cause to raise money for pediatric cancer patients and fund research needed to help find a cure.”

Prior to the tricycle race, the Miller Foundation presented a $2 million check to JJCCC for an endowed medical director chair and pediatric cancer research. Representatives from JAX Bicycles were on-hand to provide free tune-ups for anyone who brought their bike to the event.

The kick-off event is the first of a series of events for the 2012 Tour of Long Beach. The tour invites amateur cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts of all skill levels to ride on a 31-mile, 62-mile Metric Century, a new 100-mile “Cruz Gran Fondo” and a 4-mile Family Fun Ride throughout the city. For more information about the Tour of Long Beach and to register, visit bikefestlb.com or call (562) 933-1676.