Madrid, September 14, 2023 – Bristol Myers Squibb employees from Spain and Portugal join the “Country 2 Country 4 Cancer” (C2C4C) charity cycling race for another year with the aim of contributing to improving the well-being of patients with cancer and promote research to achieve progress in treatments, through the donation of the funds obtained to the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC). The objective is to contribute, among other activities, to its Exercise and Cancer program and help in its work of making the necessary resources available to patients to improve their well-being and quality of life.
The Spanish-Portuguese team joins the Bristol Myers Squibb initiative that, once again, is carried out in Europe in favor of cancer research. 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the C2C4C initiative, whose inaugural race was held ten years ago in the United States (Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer).
This challenge was later joined by cyclists from Europe in 2016, Japan (Continent 2 Continent 4 Cancer) in 2021 and Latin America (Continent 2 Continent 4 Cancer) in 2022. C2C4C has become a purposeful tradition for Bristol Myers Squibb, with More than $14 million donated globally for cancer research to date.
For the more than 90 BMS employees who will cycle through Europe this year, their motivation to participate and advance cancer research is personal. Some pedal in honor of those who have lost their lives to cancer or are currently fighting the disease. Others have suffered a cancer diagnosis themselves.
From September 1 to 18, Bristol Myers Squibb employees will cycle a route from Munich (Germany) to Uxbridge (United Kingdom), almost 2,200 kilometers in total. Its objective is to raise funds for European cancer organizations belonging to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). Bristol Myers Squibb will donate up to $200,000 to UICC to supplement the racers’ fundraising efforts. Since 2016, this initiative has raised $2.6 million for European organizations.
The Spanish and Portuguese team participated, specifically, from September 10 to 12, traveling the more than 530 km of the route that connects Spain with France, starting from Girona until reaching Toulouse, where they handed the baton to the French team, which will continue pedaling through cancer patients. The funds obtained will be donated to the Spanish Cancer Association, which has been working for years on cancer prevention, awareness and research.
“At Bristol Myers Squibb we are very proud to promote this initiative that crosses borders,” commented Alfredo Alonso, director of the BMS Oncology Unit in Spain and Portugal. “Every year, more employees decide to put on their shoes and get on their bicycles to pedal for a cause as noble and necessary as helping cancer patients and contributing to research against this disease,” he says.
In Europe, the journey will be more diverse and inclusive than ever, with employees from 18 participating countries: Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom , Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. Employees from the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania will participate in the initiative for the first time. Together, their miles will create more memories for cancer patients and their loved ones.
To support the cyclists as they raise funds for local cancer organizations in Europe, visit this link or follow the ride on LinkedIn, Twitter, using the hashtag
About C2C4C
For 10 years, Bristol Myers Squibb employees have come together to demonstrate their commitment to cancer research through Country 2 Country 4 Cancer (Europe), Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer (United States) and Continent 2 Continent 4 Cancer (Japan and Latin America), known collectively as C2C4C. The tradition began in 2014, when a group of employees from the Oncology department in the United States decided to do more for people affected by cancer. Those efforts expanded to Europe in 2016, Japan in 2021, and Latin America in 2022. In the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Latin America, hundreds of employees from more than 30 countries volunteer to train, fundraise, and participate. on these epic bike rides where their miles create more memories for cancer patients and their loved ones. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been donated to advance cancer research around the world.
About Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and make available to patients innovative medicines that help them overcome serious diseases.
For more information, please visit our website http://www.bms.es
Contact information:
María Ángeles Bravo, maria.bravo@bms.com
