Posted: June 20, 2005

Athletics: Road Runner Akron Marathon Introduces Run for Charity! Program

AKRON, Ohio - (June 16, 2005) - The Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays is offering its long blue line as a fund-raising opportunity for charitable organizations. The program called Run for Charity! encourages charities to hold their own fund-raising event within the various race day events - marathon, five-person team relay, two-person marathon relay or Kids Fun Run - scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1.

"Many runners have been motivated in the past to compete in races to raise money for a favorite charity," said Kimberlee McKee, Operations Director of the Road Runner Akron Marathon. "One of our goals from the very beginning of the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays was to give back to the community. This will give charitable organizations an opportunity to raise funds within our various running events."

Stewart's Caring Place, where those affected by cancer and their families find support, resource information and an array of programs and services, has signed up as the first charity. Don Luscher, Executive Director of Stewart's Caring Place, said he hopes to raise about $10,000 through the program and is looking to sign up as many as 50 runners to participate on race day under the Stewart's Caring Place banner.

Organizers are also launching The Road Runner Akron Marathon Team Business Challenge that encourages businesses to field five-person relay teams. A component of the program is to get the business teams to run on behalf of a charitable organization. The teams could select a charity from the list of organizations enrolled in Run for Charity! or donate the money they raise to the marathon's own charitable organization.

McKee said businesses and charitable organizations can become involved in the fund-raising efforts offered by the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays by calling the Marathon office at (330) 375-2786 or by email at info@akronmarathon.org. Application forms can be downloaded by visiting the Road Runner Akron Marathon website at AkronMarathon.org.

Contact: Kimberlee McKee, (877) 375-2786; kimberleemckee@hotmail.com.

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.