FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Competitor Group
Launch Country Music Marathon Collaboration
-St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced as title partner for
Country Music Marathon
-St. Jude Heroes becomes official charity training program for Tennessee's
largest running event
-More than 30,000 runners expected for Nashville's 13th annual race on
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – October 7, 2011 – St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital®, one of the world's premier centers for the research and
treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases, and
Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), organizers of the Country Music Marathon,
today announced a new title partnership as the official benefiting charity
of the Country Music Marathon. The 2012 event will be rebranded as the St.
Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan and will take
place Saturday, April 28.
"The St. Jude Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is the perfect match
for St Jude's rich history with the country music industry and our St. Jude
Heroes program," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising
organization of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "The event is truly
a marriage of fitness enthusiasts and country fans alike nationwide who
want to do something meaningful in the fight against childhood cancer and
other deadly diseases."
Among the 30,000 runners and walkers who annually participate in
Nashville's 26.2-mile block party will be members of the St. Jude Heroes
team who are Running For a Reason®, to support and save the lives of
children as they go thru some of the toughest times of their lives.
Over the past 12 years, the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon
has established itself as a Nashville institution, now bringing more than
30,000 runners to a city long known for its musical genius. Runners enjoy
many of Nashville's most historic sites like the Parthenon, world-renowned
Music Row and an expansive finish line festival outside the Tennessee
Titan's home, LP Field, located along the Cumberland River.
"While I believe each and every event Competitor Group organizes is
spectacular, the St. Jude Country Music Marathon is my personal favorite,"
said Tracy Sundlun, Senior Vice-President of CGI and a founder of the
Nashville race. "We are excited to launch a new era of the marathon by
partnering with St. Jude and their incredible national network of
supporters and country music radio stations, which will take the promotion
of this event and the City of Nashville to a whole new level, bringing many
more participants and visitors to experience this great city on the last
Saturday of each April."
Over its 12-year history, charity partners have raised more than $22.3
million through the Country Music Marathon, which has become one of the
largest and most successful fundraising platforms in the state of
Tennessee.
For more information, or to register for the event, please visit
Competitor.com.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its
pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other
life-threatening diseases. The hospital's research has helped push overall
survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the
institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only
National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted
solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more
information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on
www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.
About the St. Jude Country Music Marathon
A Competitor Group event, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, the St. Jude Country
Music Marathon & ½Marathon presented by Nissan will celebrate its 13th
annual running in the Music City. Featuring many of Nashville's best live
bands on 28 stages along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, the musically
themed road race annually attracts more than 30,000 runners, walkers and
junior racers.
Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday,
April 26 and includes the ING KiDS ROCK Nashville and a post-race concert
Saturday night at the Bridgestone Arena. The Nashville Convention Center
is home to the free Health & Fitness Expo which is open to the public as
all race participants pick up their race number, browse through fitness
related products, enjoy free samples and interactive clinics. For more
information, please visit Competitor.com or follow us on Twitter
@RunRocknRoll.
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