Cyclists Will Pedal 850 Miles Across Texas in the Rise Across Texas Challenge

Lance Armstrong Is Honorary Captain, Mack Brown and Gene Stallings Honorary
Coaches

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate his 50th
birthday Austin businessman Steve Hicks hosted 100 friends at a Caribbean
getaway; Jimmy Buffet and the Beach Boys entertained. Hicks turns 60 in
February and will mark the milestone in a dramatically different way: rallying
49 people to join him in bicycling 850 miles across Texas.

On March 6, 2010 Hicks and his fellow bicyclists will set out from the
Louisiana/Texas border and head west, averaging 60 miles a day. Starting from
Orange, they'll wind up in Presidio two weeks later on March 20.

Hicks, owner and executive chairman of Capstar Partners, conceived of the
ride, the Rise Across Texas Challenge, as a fundraiser for the Rise Schools of
Texas, which educate typical children alongside those with developmental
disabilities. Lance Armstrong is the ride's honorary captain; Mack Brown and
Gene Stallings are honorary coaches.

Hicks is appealing to riders as determined as he is. "For my 50th I showed
lots of people a good time, but for my 60th I want to give something back to
the world," he says. "Some adventurous types have already signed on for the
full ride. Anyone raising a minimum can join for part of the ride, too."

Proceeds will launch a campaign to build a permanent home for the Rise School
in Austin, which currently leases space. Subsequent funds will benefit Rise
Schools in Dallas, Houston, and Corpus Christi.

Hicks is not an elite biker -- far from it, at least now. When not recruiting
sponsors, he's relearning something that one proverbially never forgets. "I
got my cycling merit badge as a Boy Scout, and that's pretty much it," he
says. "Right now I'm trying to get used to being on the bike without falling."
Never fear, though: Kevin Livingston, six-time Tour de France Rider and U.S.
National Champion, has agreed to train the riders for their venture.

Towns slated as ride stops include Kountze, Montgomery, Brenham, Bastrop,
Austin, Wimberley, Kerrville, Leakey, Brackettville, Del Rio, Sanderson,
Marathon, and Marfa.

Event sponsors to date include DMX, Harden Healthcare, Livestrong, Mellow
Johnny's, Pedal Hard and Texas Monthly. Trek Travel is the official bike tour
operator.

For more information on the Rise Across Texas Challenge, please visit
riseacrosstexas.org

SOURCE Rise Across Texas Foundation

Marilyn Carter of the Rise Across Texas Foundation, +1-512-589-8959,
marilyn@marilyncartertexas.com