Walgreens and PeopleForBikes Kick Off “Ride On For Red Nose Day” Cycling Challenge Across America

DEERFIELD, Ill., April 28, 2017 - Pro-level cyclists, individuals and groups will be pedaling across the country throughout May in Ride On For Red Nose Day events, raising funds to help end child poverty.

Ride On For Red Nose Day, powered by Walgreens and PeopleForBikes in support of Red Nose Day and in honor of National Bike Month, is a series of bicycle-related activities and challenges for riders across America who are passionate about helping children in need.

“We are eager to hit the road with Ride On for Red Nose Day, an exciting initiative we are proud to introduce this year with PeopleForBikes,” said Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance. “It’s a wonderful way of getting communities together and helping people be happy and healthy, while making an impact on the effort to end child poverty. These rides continue our commitment to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals to support wellbeing around the world, for which we were honored last year with the Global Leadership Award from the UN Foundation. We look forward to being a part of these amazing rides in support of Red Nose Day this year.”

Ride On For Red Nose Day Road Rides

Ride On For Red Nose Day Road Rides, multi-day cycling events being held on the West Coast and East Coast, bring together pro-level cyclists who will tackle challenging, four-day routes to raise tens of thousands of dollars in support of Red Nose Day. Ride On For Red Nose Day Road Rides give participants the opportunity to experience a fully-supported, professional grade cycling expedition through spectacular scenery. Participants will ride with several notable cyclists and athletes, including:

• Award-winning chef and cyclist Seamus Mullen
• Professional racing cyclist Jeremy Powers
• US National Team cyclist Janel Holcomb
• Ride On event series founder and professional racing cyclist Tim Johnson

Ride On For Red Nose Day Road Ride participants will pedal 400 miles along each route to help children in need. Representatives from Walgreens, PeopleForBikes and members of the communities along the way will also participate in their journey and experience.

West Coast Route, April 30 — May 3

The four-day ride starts with a rider Meet and Greet in Santa Barbara at East Beach commencing at 11 a.m. PT on April 30 followed by the first leg around Santa Barbara County. Then on Day 2, riders will head out through the hills surrounding Ojai, through Santa Clarita’s avocado groves and around the rim of the Mojave Desert, before a final approach into Las Vegas through the spectacular Red Rock Canyon on May 3. Riders will make their way down Las Vegas Boulevard and end their journey at a rider congratulatory rally with members of the local community, among other special guests.

East Coast Route, May 21 — May 25

The second ride kicks off from historic Boston on May 21, where riders will head west through Massachusetts’ “Happy Valley” toward Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The ride tours some of the Northeast’s most classic roads and along the Hudson River Valley, arriving at Herald Square Park in New York City on the afternoon of May 24, just in time to celebrate Red Nose Day on May 25.

Ride On for Red Nose Day Challenge

Individuals and groups across America are invited to get their “Noses On” and ride their bicycles for fun and fitness and make a pledge to donate to Red Nose Day for each mile pedaled in a new virtual Ride On For Red Nose Day Challenge. Riders in cycling clubs can donate to match the total miles from their next group ride, or groups of families and friends can ride and support Red Nose Day together on local bike paths. Spin and studio cycling enthusiasts can elect to donate a set amount for each minute they spin and are encouraged to motivate their classmates to do the same.

All donations raised during the Ride On activities will benefit the Red Nose Day Fund, and people across the country are encouraged to participate to show their support. To sign up for the challenge and for more information, visit rideon4rednoseday.com.

Walgreens Red Nose Day Impact

Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion globally since its launch in the UK in 1988. For Walgreens Boots Alliance, a global, pharmacy-led health and wellbeing enterprise, Red Nose Day is an anchor for the company’s goal of supporting health and wellbeing. Walgreens, as part of the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, raised more than $20 million in the U.S. in 2016, supported through sales of Red Noses, providing funds for programs that keep children in need safe, healthy and educated, here in the U.S. and across the globe.

Beneficiaries of the Red Nose Day Fund include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provides safe places for children to learn and play after school; Children’s Health Fund, which brings essential medical services to underserved children; hunger relief organization Feeding America; Save the Children, which provides critical early childhood programs, as well as charity: water; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; and The Global Fund.

This year, the Red Nose Day campaign will culminate in a night of special television programming celebrating Red Nose Day on May 25 starting at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. For more information on Red Nose Day and how to get involved, visit walgreens.com/RedNoseDay and Walgreens on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.