(Minneapolis, MN) - March 8, 2002 - Friends of cycling industry member Kelli Turcotte are gathering items and donations to help pay for costly Cancer Treatment therapy that Kelli's insurance does not cover. Turcotte is a UCI (union cycliste internationale) Mountain Bike Technical Delegate and former employee of Castelli, GaleForce (NORBA Organizers) and the Alt Bike and Board in Minneapolis.

Turcotte, who most recently was the Technical Delegate at the Downhill and Dual Mountain Bike World Championships in Vail, CO, has been fighting ovarian cancer - which has now spread to her liver, lungs and lymph nodes. The type of Chemotherapy recommended by her doctor is not covered by her insurance carrier. As she is not well enough to work, she has incurred over $17,000 in medical bills.

Donations of any kind are being requested by her friends and supporters. Donations may be Cash (check or PayPal), sent directly to Kelli. Or, outdoor industry members may donate product which will be auctioned on E-Bay to raise money. Also, a separate raffle (for lesser-valued items) will be held during the Sea Otter Cycling Race in Monterey, CA. (March 21-24). The E-Bay Auction will begin on Tuesday March 26th and can be found by typing in the keyword "Kelli Turcotte."

Friends can send checks or money orders to Kelli Turcotte; 3631 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55409

For memorabilia and products to be auctioned or raffled, send an e-mail description of the items, retail value (and digital photo if possible) by March 13th to Malcolm Fearon at blissimages@compuserve.com. After the auction, you will be notified where to drop-ship the product.

Feel free to send an e-mail to Kelli at turc0018@tc.umn.edu to wish her well in her recovery from Cancer.

BACKGROUND ON KELLI:

Kelli got the opportunity to work at the highest level of cycling's organization when she was invited to train as a technical delegate for the sport's international governing body. "I went to Mount Ste. Anne (Canada) for my training at the World Cup race that summer of 2000, and did the World Cup Downhill event in Vail under (then UCI Coordinator) Martin Whiteley's supervision," writes Kelli. "I received appointments for two races in the 2001 season - the season opener in Napa, CA and the World Championships in Vail - and was thrilled with my new position, looking forward to a long term involvement with the sport."

But shortly thereafter, Turcotte received devastating news. "On March 19, 2001, one week after my 28th birthday, I went in for an annual physical exam. It was during that exam that my doctor found the first indication that something might be wrong. I went to Fairview-University Hospital at the University of Minnesota for more tests. Over the next two weeks I spent more time with doctors than I ever had before. On March 30th I flew to California to visit friends before the race in Napa. I was happy to leave the doctors behind."

But news of Kelli's condition caught up with her. "The morning of April 6th My doctor tracked my down at the hotel in Napa to inform me that all of the tests were back. I had Ovarian Cancer."

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff