Tour of Hope cyclists finish first leg

The cyclists' lives have all been touched by cancer. Some are cancer survivors and advocates, others are nurses, researchers or doctors in the field. They all underwent rigorous training to get in shape for the grueling nine-day ride.

After a day and a night riding relay-style through the desert, the entourage is heading into Phoenix on the first leg of its 3,300-mile cross-country tour to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. You can track the mile-by-mile progress at the website.

The Tour is sponsored by the Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmaceutical company. It's main spokesman is Armstrong, who will be appearing at some, but not all, of the rallies on the route through the southern tier of states. He rode out of San Diego with the team (above) and will join them at the end.

The Tour ends in Washington DC at about noon on Saturday, Oct. 8. Not only will the 24 members of the Tour of Hope, led by Armstrong, ride onto the Ellipse outside the White House, but they'll be joined by 1,500 cyclists who have raised money for cancer research. One of them is Dave Aiello at the Operation Gadget blog, who is still accepting donations. (The last I checked, the Tour also was still looking for volunteers to work the DC event.)

Rallies and major events are planned along the route. If you live along the route, or in any of these cities, keep your eyes open for the Tour of Hope.

Six rallies along the route are scheduled. They are:
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Maricopa Unified Schools, Phoenix;
4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the El Paso Cancer Treatment Center, El Paso;
4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Lance Armstrong Thanks to Austin Concert, Auditorium Shores, Austin;
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, UMC Cancer Institute, Jackson;
5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, Falls Park, Greenville;
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, Buddy Kemp Caring House, Charlotte.