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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Special Half-Marathon Entries To Benefit Fallen Marathoner

Posted March 27th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The officially sold-out Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon, which is held in conjunction with Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn., will offer additional entries through an online auction to benefit the family of the fallen marathoner, Wesly Ngetich, who was killed during the violence in Kenya earlier this year. Ngetich won Grandma’s Marathon twice in 2005 and 2007.

“Wesly was a great champion for our event, so assisting his family is the very least we can do,” said Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma’s Marathon. “Our donations can’t bring him back, but hopefully they can bring some financial relief to his family members as they struggle through this difficult time.”
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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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2007 Blue Planet Run Concludes in New York City

Posted September 4th, 2007 at 8:54 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

An historic around-the-world relay run reached its finish line today in New York City, marking the completion of an unprecedented three-month athletic endeavor that is raising funds to deliver safe drinking water to some of the 1.1 billion people who currently live without it.

The inaugural 2007 Blue Planet Run, an event made possible by the generous support of The Dow Chemical Company, ended at noon at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport.

The twenty original Blue Planet Run team members who circumnavigated the globe, and two alternates who joined the journey along the way, ran through a crowd of fans, family and friends who were gathered at the landmark New York City waterfront locale to celebrate with the group as it completed its epic 95-day, 15,200-mile expedition through 16 countries.

Beginning from the United Nations in New York City on June 1, the Blue Planet Run team has run relay-style 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Europe, Russia, Asia, Canada and the United States. The runners have endured some of the world’s toughest conditions, from swatting flies through the Gobi Desert to navigating city streets in Beijing to coping with the blistering summer heat of America’s heartland.

Along the way, the Blue Planet Run inspired people around the world to donate to the Blue Planet Run Foundation (BPRF), the non-profit group that organized the Run. Because of Dow’s support, BPRF dedicates one-hundred percent of the money raised to fund grassroots safe-drinking-water projects in rural communities.
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Boston Marathon charity fundraising nets $3 million

Posted August 9th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

John Hancock’s Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised $3.3 million for charitable and community service organizations, during the 111th running of the historic race. The program, in its 22nd year, set a fundraising record, eclipsing the amount previously raised by more than $400,000.

As the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, John Hancock provides select non-profit organizations with invitational marathon entries that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. The entries are distributed to runners who wish to raise money but who would not necessarily qualify for race entry based on their personal running times.

Non-profit groups, hospitals and community agencies receiving entries asked runners to raise at least $3,000 for their organization. This year the runners raised an average of more than $3,700. In addition, John Hancock asked its employees to run and raise funds on behalf of non-profits, enabling employees to strengthen their ties to the community.
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