Posted: September 22, 2005

Athletics: 2006 Mardi Gras Marathon - "Back in the Big Easy" - February 5

41st Edition to Benefit the New Orleans Police Department

In an unprecedented move to assist with the restoration and rebuilding of homes lost by members of the New Orleans Police Department during Hurricane Katrina, the 41st running of the Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon will donate all net proceeds to a special NOPD Building Fund. This fund will assist officers from the New Orleans Police Department to rebuild their lives and their homes in the city that they fought to protect and serve.

The event scheduled for Sunday, February 5, 2006 will be the first major sporting event back in the Big Easy since Hurricane Katrina brought the Crescent City to its knees on that dark Monday morning in August.

Premier Event Management, the marathon's production team as well as the New Orleans Track Club, owners of the Mardi Gras Marathon are excited about this opportunity to give something back to an organization that gave so much during the Katrina Disaster.

"Like post-9/11 New York City, the City of New Orleans will also need the added tourism and marketing value that events like this can bring to the Crescent City," said Bill Burke race director for the 2006 event.

Runners and walkers can register now and get up to the minute information on the 2006 event on the official Mardi Gras Marathon website at: MardiGrasMarathon.com

For race information or sponsorship opportunities on the 2006 Mardi Gras Marathon and our "Back in the Big Easy Project", please contact Bill Burke at Premier Event Management, (504) 454-6561 office, (504) 628-3155 cell or billpemusa@yahoo.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.