WOODCLIFF LAKE, NEW JERSEY - Thirty-eight shiny silver and white BMWs are halfway through a very special journey. After kicking-off in New York on May 18th, the fourth annual Ultimate Drive for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has today reached its midpoint. Upon their arrival at Bill Pearce BMW in Reno, Nevada, the BMWs - together with their sister fleet - will have been driven a combined 500,000 miles by 16,959 people across 124 cities. BMW's $1 per mile driven commitment to the Foundation means that this grassroots effort to raise money for breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment is well on its way to reaching its target $1 million goal this year.

"The responses from thousands of drivers in the cities the Ultimate Drive has visited so far on this year's whirlwind tour have been overwhelming," said Tom Purves, President of BMW of North America. "It's because of the truly extraordinary efforts of people across America that we have reached this milestone, and we are confident that we will once again achieve our goal of raising $1 million to help fight breast cancer, bringing the total raised to $4 million."

"We at the Komen Foundation are so pleased with the support we have received in the first half of this year's program," said Nancy Brinker, founding chair of the Komen Foundation. "Together, we are creating tremendous awareness, and I look forward to the next 500,000 miles of helping to provide a fun and unique way to join in the battle against breast cancer."

In the last three years, more than 100,000 people have participated in the Ultimate Drive, which has raised $3 million to fight breast cancer. At each event, a "local hero" is recognized in a special ceremony honoring their efforts to raise awareness. A photograph of each hero is affixed to a specially marked BMW "Signature" vehicle, which is also signed by everyone who participates in the event. This year, the Signature Vehicle in each fleet is a specially-designed X5 - the world's first Sports Activity Vehicle. These X5s have been decorated with a full-color topography map to underscore the philosophy that BMW will go anywhere in their drive to find a cure for breast cancer.

On August 1, 2000, BMW added a new element - The Ultimate Child Safety Seat Clinic - a hands-on safety program geared toward parents, and co-sponsored by Britax, the world's largest manufacturer of child safety seats. As part of the clinic, Child Passenger Safety Technicians, trained by a certified instructor from the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, are traveling with the Ultimate Drive fleets to provide one-on-one demonstrations on installing child safety seats to about 14,000 drivers across the country. The Technicians are then overseeing the participants install a seat in their own car - whether or not it is a BMW.

This evening will see the fleet leaving Reno, Nevada to continue to make pit stops at community fundraising events across the country before culminating in Dallas, Texas on November 18th. For breast cancer information, call 1-800-IM-AWARE.

(August 24, 2000)