500-km Tour of Hope kicks off in Muntinlupa

MANILA, Philippines – Muntinlupa is hosting the Tour of Hope 2009, a five-day, 500-km cycling event that aims to raise funds to promote awareness against cervical cancer in the country.

Dubbed “Tour of Hope 2009: Dare to be Bold”, the cycling event will kick off in Muntinlupa tomorrow and ends in Camarines Sur Thursday.

Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said the Tour of Hope will be staged in celebration of Cervical Cancer Month.

The cycling event invites women cyclists to participate in the charity event. Now on its second year, the Tour of Hope will be taking the Southern Luzon route from Muntinlupa City to scenic Camarines Sur.

Forums on cervical cancer will be conducted per stop to help women in these communities learn more about the deadly but little known disease.

Mayor San Pedro said the Muntinlupa City government has a cervical cancer advocacy program through OK Muntinlupa, a women’s organization headed by Mrs. Leah San Pedro, the mayor’s wife, and Trina Biazon, wife of Muntinlupa Cong. Ruffy Biazon.

A send-off ceremony will be held tomorrow in Muntinlupa at 6 a.m.

Among those who will grace the ceremony are Dr. Cecilia Llave, director of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP), Muntinlupa Congressman Biazon and Roberto Taboada, president and managing director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Philippines.

Supporters of the cycling event include Lara Villafuerte, wife of Camarines Sur Gov. Lray Villafuerte and participant in the Tour of Hope; and David Charlton, CEO of David’s Salon Institute.