Priority Health Ann Arbor Cycling Classic Announced for September(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – June 12, 2008) Priority Health is bringing a pro-am cycling race to the streets of Ann Arbor on Sunday, September 7, 2008. The Priority Health Ann Arbor Cycling Classic, with a purse totaling $30,000, will feature some of the nation’s most elite athletes competing on a 1.35 kilometer circuit through downtown Ann Arbor. "This event combines the intensity of Tour de France with the excitement of NASCAR," said Kimberly K. Horn, president and CEO of Priority Health. "It offers an opportunity to bring our message of health and wellness into the community while supporting local businesses." "We are glad to partner with Priority Health in bringing this cycling event to Ann Arbor," said Garry C. Faja, president and CEO, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. "This underscores our commitment to health while bringing visitors to our community, which will have a positive impact on our local economy." The Priority Health Classic begins at 10 a.m. and will feature five races attracting some of the best professional and amateur cyclists from across the nation. Spectators will be able to cheer on cyclists as they loop around Main, Liberty, Ashley and Washington streets at speeds reaching almost 40 miles per hour. The Ann Arbor-based Elite Men’s and Women’s Priority Health Cycling Team will be joining the competition. There will also be free children’s races for those ages 9 and under, giving youngsters the opportunity to ride their bikes and tricycles on the historic streets of downtown. Volunteers and cyclists are encouraged to sign up for the Priority Health Ann Arbor Cycling Classic by visiting www.priorityhealthclassic.com. About Priority Health Priority Health is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. It serves a half million members with a broad portfolio of products including commercial and government health plans. A nonprofit dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, Priority Health is Michigan's top-rated health plan and ranks eleventh in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Priority Health employs 1,000 people throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula with offices in Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Traverse City. For more information about Priority Health, visit www.priorityhealth.com. About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, a member of Trinity Health, is a health care organization serving Washtenaw, Livingston, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, western Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital with 74 beds, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital in Howell with136 beds and St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia with 304 beds. Combined, the four hospitals are licensed for 1,051 beds, employ more than 8,400 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 1,500 physicians. For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.sjmercyhealth.org. ###
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