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Total Cereal Sponsors Bond Girls Bike America Tour to Provide Bone Health Education

MINNEAPOLIS, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Osteoporosis is a silent disease that leads to broken bones in nearly half of women 50 or older. But it's often preventable with good nutrition and exercise. No leading cereal has more calcium and vitamin D, and Total cereal is committed to educating Americans about the importance of bone health to help prevent osteoporosis, which is why the cereal is partnering with the Bond Girls Bike America team to help spread the word as they bike across the country.

Marybeth Bond, author of "50 Best Girlfriends Getaways In North America," (National Geographic), will bike cross country through nine states with her daughter Julieclaire to spread awareness for osteoporosis. They will begin their trip with their rear bicycle wheels in the San Francisco Bay on June 3 and will end with their front tires in the Atlantic Ocean in New York on July 31. The mother-daughter team will stop in Denver, Bentonville, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati and New York City along their 3,000-mile journey.

People can sponsor miles along the trip at www.BondGirlsBikeAmerica.com, and Total cereal will match money raised, up to $25,000 (with a minimum donation of $10,000). The donations raised from the cross-country bike ride will benefit the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones.

"My family has a history of osteoporosis, so I am passionate about this health issue and my active approach to supporting bone health," said Marybeth Bond, member of the Bond Girls Bike America team. "Total cereal is a perfect partner for my physically demanding journey, because the cereal is dedicated to helping women start the day with the nutrients they need."

Bone health is an important health issue for women, as 85 to 90 percent of a woman's bone mass is acquired by age 18. After that, women must work to maintain the bone health they have in order to prevent osteoporosis and broken bones later in life. The NOF recommends consuming calcium and vitamin D as a top way to improve bone health and prevent the weakening condition.

No leading cereal has more calcium and vitamin D than Total cereal. In varieties including Whole Grain, Blueberry Pomegranate, Cinnamon Crunch, Raisin Bran and Cranberry Crunch, Total cereal provides women with 100 percent of at least 11 essential vitamins and minerals so they can give 100 percent in their everyday lives.

"The Bond team truly embodies what Total cereal stands for: giving 100 percent every day," said Dan Stangler, marketing manager for Total cereal. "That's why Total cereal is proud to support the Bond Girls Bike America team in their mission to encourage Americans to exercise and get calcium and vitamin D to maintain and improve bone health."

"We're thrilled the Bond Girls Bike America tour and Total cereal are recognizing this silent disease and are bringing osteoporosis and the associated fracture risk to the forefront of health matters for Americans," said Amy Porter, executive director and CEO for National Osteoporosis Foundation. "The donations from the Bonds' bike tour will help us fund much-needed research and education for the estimated 44 million Americans who are affected by the disease."

To learn more about the 100 percent nutrition found in Total cereal, and to follow the Bond Girls Bike America, visit the Total Cereal Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/TotalCereal.

About Total Cereal

Launched in 1961, Total® cereal was the first cereal in the United States to contain 100 percent of the U.S. government's minimum daily requirement for eight vitamins. Today, Total® is the only leading brand of cereal to provide 100% Daily Value of at least 11 essential vitamins and minerals, and the most calcium of any leading cereal brand. Total cereal varieties include Total Whole Grain, Total Raisin Bran, Total Plus Omega-3s, Total Blueberry Pomegranate, Total Cinnamon Crunch and Total Cranberry Crunch. For more information, visit www.TotalCereal.com.

About General Mills

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.

About NOF

Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation is the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research. For more information, visit www.nof.org or call 1 (800) 231-4222.

    For more information, contact:
    Shelly Dvorak, General Mills
    763-764-6451
    shelly.dvorak@genmills.com

    Kristen Roskowski, GolinHarris
    312-729-4302
    kroskowski@golinharris.com

SOURCE General Mills