LISLE, Ill. – Leading into breast cancer awareness month, Healthy Ones® and retail partner Albertsons motivated hundreds of Boise State Bronco's fans to raise $10,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The Healthy Ones "Pedal for a Great Cause" event was held in front of Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho prior to the Broncos home game versus Louisiana-Lafayette.
Boise State Bronco football fans were joined by local celebrities at an open-to-all, high-energy pedal event hosted by Healthy Ones, the makers of lean, lower sodium and heart healthy deli meats, and Albertsons. Fans pedaled on more than 20 stationary bikes located outside the stadium and were led by a professional instructor.
The event is part of the Healthy Ones' "You Can" campaign that empowers consumers to make positive changes in their lifestyle and diet.
For each minute pedaled by a participant, a $5 donation was made, by Healthy Ones, to BCRF up to $10,000. That goal was reached at the end of two hours with a check presentation made after the third quarter of the Broncos game.
This was the second "Pedal for a Great Cause" event. The first, held this past summer in Chicago, also earned $10,000. In all, Healthy Ones has committed to donate $70,000 in 2014 to BCRF culminating in a $50,000 donation in October. These dollars will help BCRF achieve its mission to prevent and cure breast cancer.
BCRF is an independent 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to advance the world's most promising research to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime. For every dollar that is donated, 91 cents is directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs. BCRF also supports over 220 researchers through grants, providing them the necessary resources to make discoveries and design new approaches to address all aspects of breast cancer.
"With breast cancer awareness month only days away, there is no better time to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation," said Elizabeth Di John, Brand Manager for Healthy Ones. "It's great to see the support from the Boise State fan base, Boise community and our partners at Albertsons. Participants proved how easy it is to make a healthy change to your day while supporting a great cause, one pedal rotation at a time.
"We are proud of our $20,000 donation on top of the $50,000 we will raise in the month of October through the purchase Healthy Ones deli meat and tub lunchmeat," continued DiJohn. "We're dedicated to helping BCRF make a difference."
On hand to cycle at the event were former Bronco standouts Bart Hendricks and Derrell Acrey. Hendricks, a Boise State Hall-of-Famer, was the Broncos' starting quarterback from 1998-2000, and led the team to back to back conference championships and bowl wins in 1999 and 2000. Avey was a three year starter at linebacker from 2008-2010, during which time the team won four conference titles as well as the 2010 Fiesta Bowl Championship.
Participants were refueled for their efforts with a free healthy pre-game lunch made with Healthy Ones deli meats and healthy snacks from partner Albertsons.
"It was our pleasure to co-host this event with Healthy Ones at Albertsons Stadium," said John Colgrove, Albertsons Intermountain Division vice president of merchandising and marketing. "The overwhelming enthusiasm Bronco Nation displayed for this great cause was inspiring and electrifying."
For more information about Healthy Ones and how you can make positive lifestyle changes, please visit www.facebook.com/HealthyOnes.
About Healthy Ones
Adding a healthy balance to your diet, Healthy Ones is the lean, lower sodium and heart healthy lunch meat. It can be found at the deli and prepackaged in your grocer's lunch meat section.
About John Morrell Food Group
With over a century and a half of experience, John Morrell Food Group brands have become respected and well known for providing premium-quality meat products to families across the United States. With products ranging from lunchmeat and franks to smoked sausage, bacon and pepperoni, the John Morrell Food Group is an important part of consumers' mealtimes. The John Morrell Food Group offers several national and regional brands including Armour®, Eckrich®, John Morrell®, Curly's®, Patrick Cudahy®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Margherita®, Kretschmar® and LunchMakers®.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, Gwaltney®, John Morrell®, Kretschmar®, Curly's®, Carando®, Margherita®, and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.
About Albertsons
Albertsons is working to become the favorite food and drug retailer in every state in which it operates. An Idaho-based company with a rich history extending back to 1939, Albertsons stores now operate in 16 states at nearly 580 locations and employ over 55,000 associates. For more information about Albertsons, visit www.albertsons.com or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/albertsons.
About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) advances the world's most promising research to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $500 million to fuel discoveries in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, survivorship and metastasis. This year, BCRF invested $45 million in the work of more than 200 researchers at leading medical institutions across six continents. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and public awareness, BCRF remains one of the nation's most fiscally responsible charities. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization with an "A+" from CharityWatch, and has been awarded a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator 12 times since 2002. Join BCRF at www.bcrfcure.org.
Source: Smithfield Foods
