Lance Armstrong rides in Vancouver in September

Three-day visit

Lance Armstrong, the world's most famous cancer survivor, will help kick off a cancer fund-raiser bicycle ride — Tour of Courage — in Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 21-23.

The seven-time Tour de France champion's visit to Canada comes about a week before he arrives in Portland to attend the LiveStrong Challenge on September 29-30.

Update: Armstrong kicks off the Sunday, Sept. 23, activities with opening remarks at the University of British Columbia Thunderbird Stadium beginning at 10 a.m.

The 30-, 60-, and 90-kilometer Tour of Courage bike rides take off promptly at 10:30. Joining Armstrong will be Phil Liggett, Johan Bruyneel, Steve Bauer, and Axel Merckx.

All riders will take a couple of 15K spins around the UBC campus, then the 60- and 90-kilometer riders will take off on their separate courses.

Following the rides, food and refreshments will be available in the stadium from noon to 4 p.m.

The first day, Sept. 21, features Armstrong at an invitation-only dinner for corporate execs and those in the cancer community. It's entitled “Lessons in Leadership, Lessons in Courage.”

The next day, Armstrong is joined by his coach, Chris Carmichael, and cycling commentator Phil Liggett to lead the 100-plus kilometer Challenge Ride. This is for 35 donors who have raised a minimum $5,000 in pledges.

The final day, Sept. 23, is the Tour of Courage Community Ride with an option of a 30-, 60-, or 90-kilometer bike route. To ride with Armstrong in this event, participants must raise $1,000 in pledges.

For more information and to register, see the BC Cancer Foundation Tour of Courage website.

A similar Tour of Courage event is scheduled June 22-24 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The Calgary-based event features Eddy Merckx and Steve Bauer at the Community Ride as well as Armstrong; the Summit Challenge for major donors is already sold out.

Armstrong also will participate in LiveStrong Challenge bike rides on Aug. 25-26 in Philadelphia, Sept. 29-30 in Portland, and Oct. 12-14 in Austin. See the 2007 LiveStrong Challege website for details.

Armstrong, who who appeared in the Discovery Channel's special broadcast “Living with Cancer” at 8 p.m. (ET) later on May 6, is busy with cancer fund-raisers and awareness events throughout the summer. In addition to events in Calgary, Philadelphia and Austin, he's bicycling in RAGBRAI to help draw attention to cancer as an election issue.