Peter Pellerito of the Center for Healthy Living wants medical center cyclists to pedal out in droves to help the UNMC/The Nebraska Medical Center team defend its Corporate Cycling Challenge title on Sunday, Aug. 17.

The winner in each corporate division of the challenge is based on the number of total employee miles ridden. Last year, the medical center team rode more than 6,293 miles -- a new corporate team record.

Here's some incentive for medical center employees to make this year's challenge a family event -- 1/2 of the miles logged by an employee's family member can count toward the medical center's team total.

"This has always been a great family event but this year our family members can be our teammates and we're going to need them to retain our title," Pellerito said.

Rumor has it, Pellerito said, that officials at Union Pacific (UP) have been making extra efforts to get their employees and their family members to ride in force to make up for the company's loss last year. UP had won the challenge the previous three years before the medical center took last year's title.

For $10, employees can register and receive a T-shirt. Registration is free for employees who don't want a shirt. All funds raised by the Corporate Cycling Challenge will go to Eastern Nebraska Trails Network for trail development in the Omaha metropolitan area.

Participants may choose to ride the Olde River Ride (10 miles), Riverside Ride (25 miles) or Tour De Fort (42 miles). All tours begin and end at Omaha's Heartland of America Park at 8th and Farnam streets.

Medical center riders who register by the early registration deadline, which is July 26, and ultimately show up to participate in the event will earn an opportunity to win a $50 gift card from Metro Health Services Federal Credit Union.

A $100 gift card also is up for the grabs and riders increase their chances to win by riding more miles. Those riders who ride 10 miles earn one opportunity, those that ride 25 miles earn two opportunities and those who ride 42 miles earn four opportunities to win.

Riders also can earn additional opportunities to win the $100 card by riding farther than they did last year and/or by recruiting medical center riders who didn't participate last year.

A free picnic for medical center cyclists that includes hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken breasts will follow at Miller's Landing on the Missouri River just north of the finish line.

Participants can register up to the day of the event, but to order a T-shirt with the UNMC logo on it, riders must register before July 21. Riders are urged to register before the event to allow for food planning at the picnic.

The first place winner of each corporate division will receive a Corporate Team Trophy and each individual rider will receive an appreciation gift from the Eastern Nebraska Trails Association, the ride organizers.

"The event is not a race -- it's a tour and that means that distance, not speed, is what we're looking for. Riders of all abilities can participate," Pellerito said. "If you ride a bike, we need you to come ride in the challenge!"

Contact Pellerito at 559-5253 or ppellerito@unmc.edu with questions. For more information and forms visit the Center for Healthy Living Web site to learn more about the event.

Date Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008