BMW and The Komen Foundation Celebrate the 500,000th Mile Of the Ultimate Drive in Silver Springs, Maryland

M5 Contest Raises Additional Funds for The Komen Foundation

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Aug. 8 -- BMW's Ultimate Drive for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation reached its 500,000th mile today in Silver Springs, Maryland, at a celebration that marked the midpoint of this unique coast-to-coast effort to raise funds for breast cancer research and communication outreach programs.

More than 25,000 people in 25 states have now test-driven BMWs as part of the program, which kicked-off simultaneously on April 25 in New Jersey and Texas. For every test-mile driven, BMW is donating $1 to the fight against breast cancer -- and with today's milestone, the Ultimate Drive is well on its way to reaching its 2002 fund-raising target of $1 million.

The Ultimate Drive is the result of a special partnership between BMW of North America and the Komen Foundation. For the sixth consecutive year, these two organizations have teamed up to raise money and awareness for beast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Two fleets -- one white, one silver -- of specially marked BMWs are traveling across the country, making pit stops in approximately 200 cities. Each city is hosting a daylong fundraising event where participants can test-drive one of the vehicles. At each event, a "local hero" is recognized in a special ceremony honoring their efforts that support the Komen Foundation mission to eradicate breast cancer. 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 BMW's all-new 7 Series.

Also new this year is an exciting contest that has been added to the program. Through a $10 donation, individuals have the chance to win a Madonna-autographed M5 from the recent BMW internet film Star, with all the funds raised going to the Komen Foundation when the program ends in October. To date, over $65,000 has been raised.

In the last five years, more than 150,000 people have participated in the Ultimate Drive, which has raised $5 million to date for the fight against breast cancer.

"For nearly six years, BMW and the Komen Foundation have been putting the brakes on breast cancer and driving home a message of hope and commitment to people around the country," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC. "Today's milestone underscores just how deeply people care about this issue. The Ultimate Drive has proven that the grassroots approach to educating the public is a powerful force, and we are proud to play our part."

"We believe that when people work together to achieve a goal anything is possible," said LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., M.D., and Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. "Our mission is to eradicate breast cancer, and we are grateful to the 25,000 men and women in communities all across America who have shown us, through their support of the Ultimate Drive, that they share that goal. We are honored to be in this fight with them."

The Komen Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. The Foundation is an international organization with a network of volunteers working through Affiliates to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.

The Komen Foundation runs one of the most innovative, responsive grant programs in breast cancer today, having awarded more than $90 million in research grants since its inception. In addition to funding research, the Foundation and its Affiliates fund non-duplicative, community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the medically underserved.

For more information about breast health or breast cancer, call the Komen Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE® (1-800-462-9273), or visit the Foundation's website at http://www.komen.org .