Press Release
May 2010
TEAM COLLEEN cancer charity to sponsor professional women’s composite team at 2010 Liberty Classic
TEAM COLLEEN is an Arizona based non-profit organization that is funding a professional women’s composite team to compete at the 2010 Liberty Classic on June 6, 2010. TEAM COLLEEN presented by Summit Velo will field six of the top female riders – from the United States and abroad – to race the historic one-day classic. As the United States only NRC and UCI event for women, the 20-year-old Liberty Classic is one of the country’s premier cycling events.
“By combining charitable organizations with professional athletics, the potential to raise awareness for a cause is great. This notoriety will lead to more corporate sponsorships which provide the funds that help organizations such as ours achieve our goals,” says George Varhola, co-founder of TEAM COLLEEN. TEAM COLLEEN is a non-profit organization which raises money for the liveSTRONG and Susan G. Komen foundations through the “Domestiques for Cancer” program. Cancer survivors who choose to participate in charity rides or events are provided a personal peloton of support (volunteer cyclists) to help them achieve their goals. They will be provided assistance with preparation and training for the event, along with physical and emotional support throughout the entire ride. Domestiques will get team leaders water and food, assist with mechanical difficulties and provide the emotional encouragement to get them to the finish line.
“Whether it’s a 25 mile event or a one-week ride, we want cancer survivors to know they can still set great goals and find a way to keep their bodies and minds fit and positive. This is about empowering people to take back control over their own lives at a time when they tend to feel like that control has been lost,” Varhola says. The team is named in honor of Varhola’s wife, Colleen Whealdon-Haught, who passed away from breast cancer in October 2009, at the age of 31. She was a category 2 cyclist from Tucson, who, while undergoing chemotherapy, was flanked by a peloton of teammates for the 2008 El Tour De Tucson. Colleen finished the 109 mile event in 5 hours 15 minutes, with the support of her “unique domestiques.” TEAM COLLEEN’s composite team will debut at the Liberty Classic in an effort to bring awareness to this program.
“Our message is simple…we want to bring awareness to cancer research and hope to cancer survivors.” Varhola says. “By gaining attention through professional races, such as the Liberty Classic, we are hoping to obtain support from larger corporate sponsors in order to grow our charitable organization, in addition to other non-profit organizations.” Summit Velo, a cycling club in Tucson, Arizona, is the first underwriter of TEAM COLLEEN. “We are starting with a small budget and one race, but we have big dreams.”
Riding for the inaugural TEAM COLLEEN at Liberty Classic will be Jeannie Longo (FRA), the most decorated champion in the history of road cycling. Fellow teammates comprising the internationally stellar field include Angi Axmann (USA), Angela McClure (AUS), Amy Herlinveaux (CAN), Melanie Meyers (USA) and Kathryn Bertine (SKN). To be part of TEAM COLLEEN as a sponsor, volunteer, domestique or a focus rider, please contact George Varhola at George@teamcolleen.org.
Press Release
January 2010
TEAM COLLEEN launches “Domestiques for Cancer” charity program.
When George Varhola’s wife, Colleen Whealdon-Haught, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 31, Colleen tackled the disease head on. As a Cat 2 cyclist, Colleen rode her bike to her chemo treatments and trained with local group rides when possible. “She was an incredible inspiration,” Varhola attests. Despite exhausting chemo treatments, Colleen’s goal in 2008 was to ride El Tour de Tucson and finish under 5:30 hours. Flanked by eight riders from her club team, the Tucson-based Summit Velo, the peloton of friends/teammates brought Colleen to a 5:15 finish time. “It was such a highlight,” Varhola says, “to see her so happy during such a difficult time.”
Colleen passed away on October 4th 2009, but her indomitable spirit became the inspiration for TEAM COLLEEN, a multi-level charity that donates to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and sponsors professional women’s composite teams to race NRC/UCI events. The main goal of TEAM COLLEEN, however, is to provide “unique domestiques” for cancer patients.
By getting cancer patients to choose charity rides, like the multi-distance El Tour de Tucson or Livestrong events, TEAM COLLEEN helps the patient-cyclist focus on completing the ride at their own personal pace. By providing volunteer domestiques to surround the cyclist and help make the journey as smooth as possible, TEAM COLLEEN ensures each cyclist gets the personal attention and assistance they need to complete their athletic mission.
“Our goal is to reach out to cancer patients through cycling, to give them something positive to shoot for,” Varhola says. “Also, we give local communities/cyclists the chance to volunteer for a great cause.”
To be part of TEAM COLLEEN as a sponsor, a volunteer, a domestique or a focus rider contact George Varhola; george@teamcolleen.org All media questions can be directed to Kathryn Bertine; kathryn@teamcolleen.org.