HARRISBURG (April 28, 2008) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association is sponsoring a Cumberland County bike tour to raise funds for child advocacy programs on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The tour, "Lawyers Riding for Children," begins and ends at LeTort Park in Carlisle and riders have the option of following 15-mile, 30-mile and 50-mile routes.

"Every day, lawyers step forward to represent children and their low-income families facing difficult situations," said Andrew F. Susko, Pennsylvania Bar Association president. "The bike tour is raising funds for the legal services programs that coordinate lawyers' efforts to protect the rights of children. The tour also is bringing awareness to the great public services performed by lawyers, often without pay and without fanfare."

Funds raised will be distributed to the Penn State Dickinson School of Law's Child Advocacy Child and to other programs identified by the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.

Governor Edward G. Rendell is acting as the honorary chair for the event. Faculty members, administrators and students of the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law and members of the Cumberland County and Dauphin County bar associations are helping to organize the event and are staffing support stations for bike riders located along the tour routes.

More information, including maps and registration and pledge forms, is available by calling 800-932-0311, extension 2251, and by visiting the association's Web site at www.pabar.org.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.