MEDIA ADVISORY

What: El Tour de Tucson kick-off event

When: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 19

Where: Banner Children’s at Diamond Children’s Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell, Tucson.

Representatives from El Tour and Banner – University Medical Center will be available for interviews.

TUCSON, Ariz. (Aug. 15, 2019) — Banner – University Medicine, nationally recognized for providing exceptional patient care, teaching future health care professionals and conducting groundbreaking research, is the official title sponsor for the 37th El Tour de Tucson.

Banner impacts the lives of thousands on a day-to-day basis and will help do its part in the cycling world on Nov. 23, 2019, when riders from all over descend on Tucson and Southern Arizona for one of the top 10 best bicycling events in Arizona and the United States.  

The 37th El Tour de Tucson, Arizona’s largest cycling event and one of the 10 largest cycling events in the United States, is produced and directed by Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. Cyclists of all ages and abilities may ride 100, 50 or 25 miles or a Fun Ride of 10, 4 or 1 miles. To register for the race, please visit: http://www.perimeterbicycling.com/el-tour-de-tucson/register-now/

The official 2019 tour name will be announced on Monday. Diamond Children’s Medical Center is the primary beneficiary of the race. 

“El Tour de Tucson is more than just a bike ride, it is a Tucson and surrounding community commitment to health, wellness and safety. As the lead sponsor for El Tour de Tucson, Banner University Medicine is extremely proud to help support this nationally recognized cycling event,” said Samuel M. Keim, MD, MS, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Arizona, Banner University Medical Center emergency medicine physician and cycling enthusiast. 

At the center of Banner – University Medicine is patient care, research and teaching. Included in Banner – University Medicine is Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, Banner – University Medical Center South, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, Banner Children’s at Diamond Children’s Medical Center, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, physician clinics and a health plan division. Banner Academic medicine is the future of medicine today.

“Banner and its mission, the health and well-being of our community, is a perfect fit for El Tour de Tucson,” said Pat Lopez, Chairman of the Board for Perimeter Bicycling. “Banner and El Tour de Tucson have joined together to promote health, wellness, and charitable causes through cycling. We look forward to a great partnership and making a difference in our community.”

Since its inception in 1983, Perimeter Bicycling has raised more than $95 million for over 100 charities. In that time, more than 266,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities have participated in the event. Everyone is encouraged to ride.

“First and foremost, ‘thank you Banner for coming forward to help the ride be more successful than ever,’” said Charlene Grabowski, CEO of Perimeter Bicycling. “Banner is an integral part of the community as is El Tour de Tucson, given its history and success with charities. Banner’s commitment to the cycling community, the ride and Southern Arizona is incredible. We share a love for Tucson.”

Banner is the first title sponsor since 2017.

About Perimeter Bicycling

Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt organization responsible for the production and promotion of four major cycling events – El Tour de Tucson, El Tour de Mesa, Pima County El Tour Loop the Loop and Indoor El Tour – as well as the annual El Tour Expo, and the El Tour Fun Rides. Please visit www.perimeterbicycling.com, follow on Twitter @tourdetucson  and @PerimeterBike or find us on Facebook ElTourdeTucson and PerimeterBicycling 

About Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South

Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South are part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Banner Children’s Diamond Children's Medical Center and many clinics. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.bannerhealth.com/locations/tucson/banner-university-medical-center-tucson or www.bannerhealth.com/locations/tucson/banner-university-medical-center-south

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