PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE APRIL 13, 2006
Business/Michigan Media Contact:
Amy Miller, Priority Health
amy.miller@priorityhealth.com
616-464-8571
Priority Health finds new way to promote wellness. Sponsors pro cycling team
Grand Rapids, Mich. (April 13, 2006) — Priority Health, a nationally recognized health plan based in Michigan, announces its title sponsorship of Michigan’s only professional cycling team. The sponsorship demonstrates Priority Health’s continued dedication to improving health and encouraging individual commitment to fitness, nutrition and overall wellness.
The Priority Health Cycling Team is one of only 15 International Cycling Union (UCI) Continental teams in the United States. Managed and based in Michigan, the team’s roster features a core of Michigan’s top talent — Brian Sheedy of Rockford, Brent Bookwalter of Comstock Park and Jake Rytlewski of Bay City. Additional riders were recruited from throughout the United States and from Australia and New Zealand.
“The Priority Health Cycling Team sponsorship fits perfectly with our corporate dedication to wellness through good nutrition and exercise,” said Kim Horn, Priority Health’s president and CEO. “We are excited to sponsor this outstanding group of professional athletes, who serve as positive role models for people throughout Michigan and throughout the country.”
Priority Health Cycling Team members will make several appearances at various Priority Health-sponsored events promoting wellness and encouraging healthy living throughout Michigan. These include in-school assemblies, Girls-on-the-Run events and community walks, runs and cycling events.
In 2005, the team placed fifth in the nation for its division, and it hopes to better that mark in 2006. The team will compete in more than 35 races throughout the country through mid-September, including an Aug. 26 stop in Rockford for the Priority Health Rockford Criterium.
To support the team, Priority Health has created a separate Web site, TeamPriorityHealth.com, featuring information on individual riders and races, as well as general cycling news. Enhancements are planned as the year progresses to include a team blog and online store where fans can purchase team kits and branded clothing.
Priority Health is the title sponsor of the team; Bissell and Advantage Benefits are key supporting sponsors. Bob Hughes, of Advantage Benefits, and Mark Bissell, of Bissell, were instrumental in creating the original team in 2004 and are longtime supporters of cycling.
“Bob Hughes and Mark Bissell have been extremely enthusiastic about Priority Health’s sponsorship of the team,” Horn said. “Their support has been crucial. We’re very happy to be working with them to enhance the team’s stature within the racing community and throughout Michigan.”
In addition to the UCI Continental team, there are three regional teams: a U23 Men’s Team (under age 23), an Elite Women’s Team, and an Elite Masters Men’s Team (age 30+). A coed amateur club team completes the full Priority Health Cycling Team.
The team is managed by the husband and wife team of Mark and Cheryl Olson of Athletic Mentors (athleticmentors.com).
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About Priority Health
Priority Health is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. It serves more than 450,000 members with a broad portfolio of products including HMOs, PPOs, HSAs and Medicare. Priority Health is a nonprofit company governed by a volunteer board of directors. Dedicated to improving health and lowering health care costs, the company is rated number one by the National Business Coalition on Health and is consistently ranked among the nation’s best health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
About the Priority Health Cycling Team
New to the 2006 UCI Continental Pro Cycling lineup, the Priority Health Cycling Team: Brian Sheedy, Brent Bookwalter, Jake Rytlewski, Eddy Hilger, Tom Zirbel, Teddy King, Robbie King, Glen Mitchell, Tommy Nankervis, and current top-ranked Australian Criterian National Champion, Richard England. The roster is a mix of new pro riders and veterans from last year's Advantage Benefits-Endeavour Team. Priority Health, the new title sponsor, is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. Key supporting sponsors are Bissell and Advantage Benefits. Product sponsors include Giordana (clothing), Wynalda Litho, Enervit Active Nutrition, Easton (components), Schwalbe (tires), Ridley (frames), Axley USA (glasses), Selle SanMarco (saddles), Jagwire (cables and brake pads), DMT (shoes), Speed Merchants, Speed Play, Stella Azzurra (bar tape), Arundel (bottle cages) and Bell Helmets.
