St. Louis, MO -- Carrie Cash will be launching Team Vera Bradley Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer at the inaugural Rollin’ for Charity Indoor 100 Bike Race.

Team Vera Bradley Foundation has committed to raising $22,500 for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer over the course of the 2010 cycling season.

“There’s plenty of time to meet the team’s fundraising goal,” says Cash. “But let’s start now. Women are diagnosed and living with breast cancer every day. I didn’t want to wait show my support.”

Cash, a St. Louis native, will go head-to-head this weekend against local Chris Ploch at an indoor race for charity. The race will pit man versus woman and mountain bike versus road bike in a race to raise cash for charity and ride 100 miles on bicycle rollers at local outdoor retailer, the Alpine Shop of Kirkwood, MO.

Lisa Hunt, director of Team Vera Bradley Foundation, embraces Cash’s creativity. “This is a great way to kick off the team’s fundraising efforts,” says Hunt. “Not to mention, Carrie will be getting some solid training in preparation for the race season!”

Cash is the co-founder of Team Revolution – a cycling education and advocacy non-profit organization for women based in St. Louis. Following three years of racing for her own organization, Cash is heading into her first year as a professional cyclist racing for Team Vera Bradley Foundation. In 2009, Cash had 14 top 20 finishes in major competitions including five top 10 placings. She is the current Missouri State Cyclocross Champion.

Her opponent, Ploch, is is a four-time Missouri State NORBA Champion and currently races for both Team DRJ-Racing and the Gary Fisher 29er Crew Racing Team. He was also the 2009 champion of the Alpine Shop Short Track Dirt Crit Series and has made the move to the Semi-Pro status heading into 2010.

Both riders are aiming to raise $1500 for their respective charities through the competition. Ploch will ride for the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter. Cash’s efforts for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer is the first of many fundraisers her team has planned throughout the year.

Anyone wishing to support Cash and the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer should visit: http://rollerraceforthecure.blogspot.com/


Those that wish to support Ploch and the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter should visit: http://www.razoo.com/story/-Rollin-In-The-Dough-100-Miles-On-Rollers-Sat-Jan-9-Kirkwood-Alpine-Shop

Alpine Shop, employer for both Ploch and Cash, has offered a $500 prize with $350 going to the charity of the first racer to complete the 100 mile race and $150 to the second-place racer’s charity.

The race will begin at 11 am at Alpine Shop Kirkwood (440 N. Kirkwood Road, 63122) and will run for approximately four hours. To make this fun for both racers, as well as those who come out to support them, mini-competitions will be held each half-hour during the race with prizes given to the winning racers’ supporters.

The Rollin’ for Charity Race is part of the Outdoor Fitness Festival going on Saturday, January 9 at Alpine Shop Kirkwood. Various clinics will be held throughout the day giving tips on using the outdoors to accomplish your 2010 fitness goals.