Cancer survivor and Paralympian to be honoured at Alabama Criterium

Ron Williams will be honoured at the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Alabama, USA on Saturday evening, April 16. Ron, a 30 year-old who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, was captain of the USA Paralympic cycling team that earned a silver and bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. Ron lost his leg from the knee down to bone cancer as a child.

"We want to recognize Ron not only for his Paralympic cycling accomplishments, but also for the inspiration he provides to cancer survivors everywhere," said Mike Poe, the criterium's director. All of the amateur and pro racer entry fees will be donated to the local Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser, and the organisers hope to raise $10,000. Some of the Tour de Georgia teams on their way to Stage 1 in Augusta have accepted the invitation to not only race to help reach this goal with their entry fees, but also to compete for the $10,000+ Pro criterium purse.

Aside from competitions, Ron rode with Lance Armstrong in the 2003 Tour of Hope and serves on the board of directors of Camp Sunshine, a camp for kids with cancer in Decatur, Georgia.

Full event schedule is at www.sunnykingcriterium.com