Posted: May 17, 2005

Athletics:Young Leaders Run the City, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Partner to Help School Students

CLEVELAND - (May 17, 2005) - A handful of young professionals with ties to the city of Cleveland is intent on raising money and awareness to help kids in the Cleveland Municipal School District. One of the fund raising efforts will be to run in the 28th Annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K on Sunday, May 22.

The group, known as Young Leaders Run the City, has set a goal of raising $100,000 over the next two years to help Cleveland school students who are facing extreme financial challenges that impact their education.

"Cleveland schools have been hit hard with over 1,000 layoffs in the past two years and a $25 million budget shortfall," said Kenneth L. McRay, the organizer and one of the founders of Young Leaders Run the City. "The current economic environment limits students' chances of reaching their full potential."

McRay, an investment adviser currently working in New York, says the money the group raises will help students with expenses such as transportation costs for college visits or providing winter coats in order to get back and forth to school.

"We look forward to partnering with Young Leaders Run the City," said Jack Staph, executive director of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K. "This relationship fits well with our mission statement which is to provide a running experience for all individuals who want to participate regardless of their abilities; to produce an event that highlights the Cleveland community and provides a positive economic impact for the community; and to give charities an opportunity to benefit financially from the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K." In its 28 year history, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10K has helped charities raise more than $1 million.

In addition to participating in the marathon and 10K running events, members of Young Leaders Run the City will also be promoting urban health and fitness at their booth at the Rite Aid Health & Beauty Expo on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21 at the Cleveland Convention Center. The group also plans to sponsor a team of Cleveland school students for the Kid's Run on Saturday, May 21 as a way to promote health and fitness among young people in the community.

Other organizers of Young Leaders Run the City include attorney William D. Dawson; Lynard Zingale, owner of the Lynard Zingale Agency of American Family Insurance; H. Douglas Rice II, principal of Woodland Hills Elementary School in the Cleveland Municipal School District and Donshon Wilson, an educator in the East Cleveland City School District. All are currently in training for either the marathon or the 10K and are asking other professionals to join them or to make a financial pledge. To do so, and to learn more about the group's other fund-raising efforts, visit their website at mypartcao.org.

The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K is one of the 50 longest running marathons in the country. A new addition to the 2005 race schedule is a half-marathon along with walking divisions for both the marathon and half-marathon. To register, visit the website at ClevelandMarathon.com.

About the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K is now in its 28th year of providing a running experience for all individuals who want to participate regardless of their abilities. More than 250,000 runners have participated, generating more than $6.8 million annually to benefit the Cleveland community.

Sponsors of the 28th Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K include:
Rite Aid, Alpine Springs Natural Spring Water, American Greetings, Miller Brewing, Lamisil Tablets, Carb Boom Energy Gel, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Hershey's Payday Pro, Coca-Cola, Sports Health/Cleveland Clinic, ASICS, Galleria at Erieview, Powerade, Panera Bread, WKYC-TV3, WAKS Kiss 96.5 FM, WGAR 99.5 FM, WMJI Magic 105.7 FM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WMVX Mix 106.5 FM and WTAM 1100 AM

From: Tom Koch, Highland Public Relations

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.