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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 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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DFMC Team: A Worthy Challenge for the Fleet of Foot

Posted January 30th, 2008 at 11:09 AM by Jeremy Sussman

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

dana-farber marathon challenge team DFMC Boston Marathon Training for the Boston Marathon certainly provides runners with the experience of a lifetime and countless health benefits. Some even run fast enough to help improve the health of others.

The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team is looking for qualified runners who want to add a new dimension to their training by running for others as well as themselves. Runners who have run a qualifying time at a certified marathon after Sept. 23, 2006, can join the DFMC team and run to raise money that supports researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. These researchers have taken on another type of challenge: Curing Cancer.

Each Challenge runner agrees to raise at least $3000 by May 21, 2008, a sum that is easier to raise than most think. The average amount raised per runner in 2007 was more than $7000 and 100 percent of the money goes to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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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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Wildfires Force Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Postponement in San Diego

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results

Due to the wildfires in San Diego County, the Komen San Diego Race for the Cure which was scheduled for Sunday, November 4, has been postponed to Sunday, December 2, 2007.

“We want to make sure that the most healthy and secure environment is available to all involved” said Race Chair, Samm McDonald.

The event will take place at the same location as previously planned - Balboa Park’s west side near 6th and Quince.

For more information, please visit: InMotionEvents.com

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Win a free trip to NYC to see the conclusion of the 15,200-mile Blue Planet Run

Posted August 23rd, 2007 at 1:16 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Americans now have a new way to get to New York City and raise money and awareness for water projects around the world — at the same time.

Blue Planet Run Foundation’s online “Messenger Program” lets participants earn points by recruiting others to make donations to help fund projects that bring safe drinking water to the 1.2 billion people who live without it.

“Messengers” win prizes based on the number of points they accrue compared with other participants. The three “Messengers” with the most points by August 27, 2007, will each receive a trip for two to New York City to participate in the festivities for the Blue Planet Run finale at the South Street Seaport on September 4.

The top 1,500 Messengers will also receive genuine Blue Planet Run batons http://shop.blueplanetrun.org just like the one that the runners are carrying around the world.

(NOTE: Check back tomorrow for the latest episode of The Final Sprint Podcast featuring an interview with Mary Chervenak, one of the twenty-one courageous runners on the Blue Planet Run team!)

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Hope Runs: Two American women running to inspire social change in Kenya

Posted July 9th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

Hope Runs Orphans Africa Lara Vogel and Claire A. Williams, two American women, are using running to improve the lives of Kenyan orphans.

The latest issue of Runner’s World Magazine features the inspirational story of Hope Runs, a non-profit started by Vogel and Williams, two Stanford graduates, with a mission to empower children in impoverished communities with tools of personal health, social entrepreneurship, and technology through running.

The following video highlights the mission of Hope Runs:
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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

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Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lance Armstrong among sports stars to launch Athletes for Hope

Posted April 26th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

An elite group of professional athletes have joined forces to launch Athletes for Hope, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to help athletes, their fans, and the corporate community do more to make the world a better place.

Athletes for Hope’s 12 Founding Athletes hail from different sports but share a common passion for philanthropy. They are: Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr.