FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Adds New Event to Race Weekend Activities
Race slated to benefit Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
CLEVELAND (March 16, 2009) – The 2009 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half
Marathon & 10K will add a new 5K race to its race weekend events,
benefiting the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF).
Scheduled to take place Saturday, May 16 at 8:30 a.m., the new 5K (3.1
mile) course will begin and end at Shooter's in the Flats, where a
post-race party will be held immediately following the race, offering food,
music and entertainment to participators and the public alike.
"This is a great opportunity for anyone to participate in the race weekend
events," said Ralph Staph, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon race director.
"Runners can use this race to stretch their legs before Sunday's longer
events or, if athletes feel they are not quite ready for a long-distance
run, this is a chance to get out and participate at any speed."
To register for the 5K race, visit the Cleveland Marathon's website at
www.clevelandmarathon.com where registration will be available online until
May 13. Late registration and packet pick-up will be held at the Health and
Fitness Expo, Friday, May 15, at the Cleveland Convention Center from 11:00
a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Parking for the 5K event and post-race party is free in the Nautica
Pavilion parking lot located on the West Bank of the Flats near the
Powerhouse.
Those interested in participating in any other weekend events, including
the Kids' Run on Saturday, and the 10K, half marathon or full marathon on
Sunday, May 17, can also register on the marathon's website or call
800-467-3826.
Participants of the 5K race will have the opportunity to raise funds to
benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, or any other charity of
their choice. The Cleveland Marathon will also donate a portion of proceeds
to the MMRF.
Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer of the plasma cell. It is the
second most common blood cancer. As the world's number-one funder of
multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised more than to $110 million to
fund 70 laboratories. Tracy Carloss, WEWS Channel 5 weekend news anchor,
will be participating in the 5K and serving as official race starter. An
avid MMRF supporter, Carloss' mother is a multiple myeloma survivor.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
The mission of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is to
relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of
next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients
and lead to a cure. To date, the MMRF has raised more than $110 million, 93
percent of which directly supports research and related programming. The
MMRF has already seen a significant return on its research investment,
including the approval of four new treatments that are extending myeloma
patients' lives and being explored as treatments for 19 other cancers.
Today, the MMRF is supporting 30 new compounds and approaches now in
clinical trials and pre-clinical studies and has facilitated 17 clinical
trials through its sister organization, the Multiple Myeloma Research
Consortium (MMRC). For more information about the MMRF, visit
www.themmrf.org.
About the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K is in its 32nd year of
providing a running experience for all individuals who want to participate
regardless of their abilities. More than 260,000 runners have
participated, generating more than $12 million annually to benefit the
Cleveland community.
Mission Statement:
-To provide a running experience for all individuals who want to
participate regardless of their abilities.
-To produce an event that highlights the Cleveland community and provides a
positive economic impact for the community.
-To give charities an opportunity to benefit financially from the Rite Aid
Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K.
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