The following is being released by Valley Presbyterian Church:

What: Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and Valley Presbyterian Church are having a celebration and special build event at a new Lincoln Avenue construction site in honor of the four-person amateur cycling team from Portola Valley that will pedal 3,000 miles across the country in RAAM, "the world's toughest bike race," to raise more than $50,000 for the local Habitat cause.

Who: Speakers at the event will include:

-- Sally Phillips, originator of the team will talk about her dream to "do something big" and the amazing journey she and her teammates have embarked on. Her motivation? Not visions of glory in the winner's circle, but the dream of more new affordable Habitat homes on the Peninsula.

-- Barbara Evans, Director of Development at Peninsula Habitat, will speak about the dream of ending poverty housing in the Bay Area, where thousands of people are living in unsafe, unhealthy and substandard living conditions.

-- Mark Goodman-Morris, pastor at Valley Presbyterian Church, will talk about the team's role in the church's long-running mission to build affordable housing with Peninsula Habitat, along with putting faith into action.

Team members - Rafael Ornes, Joel Phillips, Sally Phillips, and Michelle Santilhano - will be cheered for their remarkable undertaking in the coast-to-coast competition by cycling enthusiasts, city officials, volunteers and many others at the event.

When: Friday, May 16th. Special all-day build event will be paused from 12:00-12:30 PM for the celebration and speakers. Team members will be available immediately following the event for informal one-on-one interviews. Later, they will embark on a 40-hour, 700 mile practice ride with their crew to simulate the grueling nine-day Race Across America on June 11-20.

Where: Peninsula Habitat Construction Site

122 Lincoln Avenue

Redwood City, California

To learn more about the race or to help the team reach their fundraising goal, go to or .