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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

Dathan Ritzenhein Named
Visa Humanitarian Athlete
of the Year

Posted November 27th, 2007 at 7:45 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

dathan ritzenhein finishing 2007 u.s. olympic men's marathon trials Two-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein has been named Visa Humanitarian Athlete of the Year by USA Track & Field. Ritzenhein will be honored December 1 at the 2007 Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held in conjunction with USA Track & Field’s 2007 Annual Meeting, November 28-December 2, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Ritzenhein, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, earlier this year won the Healthy Kidney 10K in New York on May 19 in 20 minutes 8 seconds, breaking the Central Park course record of 28:10 set by Kenyan Paul Koech in 1997. Following the race Ritzenhein donated his winner’s earnings of $7,500 to the race beneficiary, the National Kidney Foundation. “I made a pact with myself before the race that if I’m fortunate enough to pick up this course record the least I can do is give back the first place prize money seeing as how this is professional athletics, but it’s a race for charity,” said Ritzenhein.
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USATF study reveals
charity fundraising by runners, walkers surges
to over $714 million

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 2:45 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Marking a trend of continued growth, road runners and walkers raised $714 million for charity in 2006, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Monday. The figure marks a nearly 9 percent increase over 2005 and shows continued, steady increases since USATF began its annual charity survey in 2002.

The Nike Women’s Marathon and Half-Marathon was named the 2006 USATF Charitable Race of the Year, while the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its GREAT STRIDES program was honored as 2006 Charitable Organization of the Year.

Conducted internally by USATF, the national governing body of track and field, long-distance running and race walking, the study revealed that more than $714 million was raised for charitable causes by runners in 2006.

charity runners walkers USATF gathered data from national charitable race series/organizations and a sample of nearly 200 running/walking races, including many of the country’s largest races.

“The continued growth of charity fundraising in the current economic climate shows the dedication of charity runners and walkers to their cause, as well as the strength of road running in this country,” said USATF CEO Craig A. Masback.
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New Website Launched to Monitor Jenny Crain’s Condition

Posted October 9th, 2007 at 2:59 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, SPOTLIGHT

jenny crain photo courtesy of the new york road runners A new website, http://jennycrain.net/ has been set up to allow family and friends to monitor Jenny Crain’s progress. She’s the USA athlete who was struck by a car and seriously injured while training last Aug. 21.

There’s a blog on the front page which describes her recovery progress, and a page where you can leave her your good wishes. There’s also information on how to make a donation to her recovery fund.

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Make It Happen Fund:
You can now contribute to Jenny Crain’s recovery

Posted August 28th, 2007 at 6:17 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

You can contribute to USA marathoner Jenny Crain’s recovery through a special fund which has been set up to assist her. Donations are being accepted at the following address:

Jenny Crain—Make It Happen Fund
c/o M&I Bank—Mail 098-9120
Attn: Cathy Haukedahl
651 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Or you can also visit any M&I Bank and let the teller know you would like to contribute to the Jenny Crain—Make It Happen Fund. To find an M&I Bank, visit http://www.mibank.com.

We continue to pray for Jenny’s swift and complete recovery.

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Donate your old running shoes and help support the Shoe4Africa Foundation!

Posted June 7th, 2007 at 5:02 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Announcements, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Have an extra or old pair of shoes lying around?
Want to support a worthy cause and do something to better the lives of those who need your help the most?

If so, then please consider joining 2007 World XC Champion Lornah Kiplagat, female running pioneer Kathrine Switzer, actor Anthony Edwards, two-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel, supermodel runner Kim Alexis and a host of other running icons and celebrities in supporting the Shoe4Africa Foundation; a non-profit organization committed to supporting programs, individuals, and events that create opportunity, enhance self-esteem, and increase health awareness in East Africa.

For more information and to make a contribution, check out the following video and please visit: www.shoe4africa.org