AGF Funds Inc. today reissued a ‘battle of the bikes’ challenge to other mutual fund companies to raise awareness for and encourage their participation in this Friday’s (Sept. 19) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s 2008 Ride for Diabetes Research.

“We want to make this year’s JDRF Ride for Diabetes Research Mutual Fund Challenge bigger and better than ever, so we’re excited to challenge other mutual fund companies to pedal up and raise funds for such an important cause,” says Randy Ambrosie, president, AGF Funds Inc. “We plan to give our competitors a real ‘ride for their money’. It’s a fantastic way to spend a Friday afternoon.”

Last year, over 300 enthusiastic and high-energy riders from seven mutual funds companies took part in the Mutual Fund Challenge held at Nathan Phillips in Toronto, raising a total of $110,000, a 50% increase from 2006.

AGF has participated in JDRF’s Ride for Diabetes Research in Toronto for the past five years. “We have a long tradition of supporting causes to make our communities a better place to live and work,” says Judy Goldring, AGF’s general counsel and senior vp, law and corporate Affairs, who has chaired the firm’s JDRF Campaign since 2003. “I’m thrilled that several mutual fund companies and their employees have also embraced this event, rising to the challenge year after year.”

This year, AGF’s target is to increase total funds raised to $70,000 through individual pledges, a corporate donation and other summer fundraising efforts.

The 2008 Mutual Fund Challenge target is $135,000.

The winner of the Challenge takes home the Ride Cup for the Company that has the highest average amount raised per rider.

For more information on JDRF’s 2008 Ride for Diabetes Research, go to: www.jdrf.ca/ride.

IE