PRESS

CIGNA Becomes Principal Sponsor of Falmouth Road Race

Sponsorship Agreement Unites Leading Employee-Benefits Company and Top-Rated Running Event

Falmouth, Mass., April 26, 2006 ­Organizers of the Falmouth Road Race announced today that CIGNA will be the principal sponsor of the 34th annual Falmouth Road Race to be held on August 13, 2006. CIGNA Group Insurance, which includes Disability, Life and Accident Insurance, and CIGNA Dental will provide important financial support as the race looks forward to another successful event in August.

In announcing the sponsorship, CIGNA Group and Dental Insurance President Karen S. Rohan said, "We are excited at the opportunity to be the principal sponsor of the Falmouth Road Race. It is nationally renowned for offering a first-class running weekend for recreational runners and elite competitors alike. As a company that cares about the health and wellness of our members, it’s a great match for us to sponsor this outstanding road race."

Last year the race helped raise over $750,000 for over 25 local and national non-profit organizations. "Because of the race's tradition of raising money for numerous non-profit groups, the Falmouth Road Race is a natural extension of our corporate philosophy of being a 'Business of Caring,'" added Rohan.

The addition of CIGNA as principal sponsor will enable race officials to continue to attract a world-class field of U.S. and international runners, including a prize purse for the top American finishers. Race co-director Lucia Carroll said, "With their thirteen-year tradition of presenting the very successful CIGNA HealthCare Corporate 5K Road Race in Manchester, NH, CIGNA understands road races and runners, so they are a natural partner for this event. Their support ensures that the Falmouth Road Race will maintain its high standing in the sport. And, with both races only three days apart, runners who come from around the world can easily participate in two high quality races sponsored by CIGNA," added Carroll. Rohan and Carroll pointed out that the races are independent and require separate registration.

The Falmouth Road Race is one of the top-rated events on the international circuit and annually attracts a world-class field, racing seven scenic miles from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights. In all, almost 10,000 recreational runners mix with the world’s best, with an estimated 50,000 fans lining the course, making this one of the top sporting attractions in New England and a centerpiece of summer on Cape Cod.

Last year’s champions were Lornah Kiplagat of Holland and Gilbert Okari of Kenya. Kiplagat is the fastest woman ever in the half-marathon and 20k. She holds the Falmouth course record of 35:02. 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., was third in last year’s race. Okari is the men’s course record holder, set last year with a time of 31:08. Past Falmouth winners in the men’s division have included Olympians Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Craig Virgin, Rod Dixon and Alberto Salazar. Women champions have included such luminaries as U.S. Olympians Joan Benoit Samuelson and Lynn Jennings, Grete Waitz of Norway and South African Olympian Colleen De Reuck.

About CIGNA Dental: Based in Plantation, Florida, CIGNA Dental meets the dental coverage needs of more than 10.7 million members, and the employer needs of more than one-third of all Fortune 100 companies. CIGNA Dental members access care from one of the largest dental HMO and dental PPO networks in the U.S., with more than 74,500 DPPO dentists and 5,600 DHMO facilities (with 24,900 DHMO dentists). CIGNA was one of the first insurance companies to offer dental indemnity - introducing its first plan in 1964 and became the first national carrier to enter the Dental HMO market.

About CIGNA Group Insurance: CIGNA Group Insurance provides group, disability, life and accident coverage in the U.S. The organization is one of the top five providers in disability management and insurance with solutions that focus on helping employees return to a productive work life as quickly and safely as possible. It also is one of the top five providers of group term life and group universal life, and of group accident insurance, including voluntary accident and business travel accident insurance.

About the Falmouth Road Race: The Falmouth Road Race was founded in 1973 and has been named the "Best USA Road Race" by Runner’s World magazine. It has also been featured in Life Magazine and Sports Illustrated, as well as on CBS television and ESPN. Last July it was named in Sports Illustrated "One of the 25 essential things to do in the summer." It was the only road race listed. Proceeds from the race benefit Falmouth school programs and youth organizations. The race annually receives more than 25,000 requests for entry forms and fills its field of 10,000 in less than a week. Forms will be available online from May 1 to May 13. Further information is available at the race web site, www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.