7-Eleven reunites for Parkinson's

Riders from the 7-Eleven team that was the first American squad to make a mark on European cycling are getting together on June 16 for a charity fund-raising dinner to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team's first Tour de France stage victory.

That victory went to sprinter Davis Phinney, who now suffers from Parkinson's disease, and so the dinner at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park CA will raise funds for the Davis Phinney Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's.

Announcer Phil "the voice of cycling" Liggett will be master of ceremonies and lead the live auction after dinner. Auction items may include an exclusive ride with biking legends, a European trip to watch the Tour de France, Giro, or Vuelta, and a custom bike built and presented by Eddy Merckx.

Members from the 7-Eleven team who plan to attend the event include Steve Bauer, Chris Carmichael, Eric Heiden, Ron Keifel, Tom Schuler, Jeff Pierce, Jim Ochowicz (team director), and of course Davis Phinney. The Davis Phinney Foundation will also begin its annual bike raffle at the event, with a road bike donated by Ben Serotta.

The dinner costs $250 per ticket, and more details are at www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.