FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Schricker
(804) 285-9495
DONATE LIFE NAMED AS OFFICIAL RACE BENEFICIARY
OF THE SUNTRUST RICHMOND MARATHON
Program aims to increrase organ and tissue donation
RICHMOND, VA - The SunTrust Richmond Marathon is pleased to announce the
addition of Donate Life as the official beneficiary of the event. The goal
of Donate Life, a partnership of the non-profit agencies UNOS (United
Network for Organ Sharing) and LifeNet, is to increase the number of lives
saved through organ and tissue donation. The 26th running of the SunTrust
Richmond Marathon will take place on November 15, 2003.
Donate Life, through educational efforts, encourages all Americans to say
"yes" to organ and tissue donation and record a donation decision. One
organ donor can save 7 lives and one tissue donor can help more than 50
people. More than 82,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving
organ transplant and seventeen people die each day waiting for a transplant
that doesn't come in time. Anyone can make a difference by documenting a
donation decision and talking to his or her family. Virginia residents can
document a donation decision at www.save7lives.org
"The SunTrust Richmond Marathon's commitment to increasing organ and tissue
donation will result in saving more lives and we are a proud partner in
this effort," said Helen Leslie, Executive Director of LifeNet.
the race director and organizing committee. We look forward to working with
the race organization and making our reunion a big success.
As race beneficiary of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon (and its companion
race, the NTELOS 8k), Donate Life will receive a portion of every race
entry fee to support their educational efforts to help save lives through
organ and tissue donation. Additional funds will be raised through the
Donate Life Pledge Program, in which event participants are encouraged to
raise money through pledges from friends, relatives, co-workers and
neighbors. Prizes will be awarded to fundraisers based on attaining
certain funding levels.
Now celebrating its 26th anniversary, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon prides
itself as "America's Friendliest Marathon." The race is organized by the
Richmond Sports Backers and Richmond Road Runners Club who, since taking
over management of the race in 1998, have seen its participant numbers
surge from 474 in 1997 to 3,432 in 2002. Including the NTELOS 8k, total
participation has grown to over 6,200 runners.
"SunTrust Bank, through our sponsorship of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon,
is proud to aid the efforts of Donate Life to increase awareness of, and
raise funds for, organ and tissue donation," said C. Michael Newbrand,
director of Marketing, SunTrust Bank, Mid-Atlantic. "We believe in this
cause and it is easy for everyone to get involved. We can all do our part
in helping save 7 lives. As further support, SunTrust Bank, Central
Virginia, has joined the Workplace Partnership program to educate their
employees about the importance of organ and tissue donation and
save7lives.org"
"For many participants, training for and running a marathon has changed
their lives," said Mike Logan, race director of the SunTrust Richmond
Marathon. "Becoming an organ and tissue donor is about the gift of life-it
is about making a difference. The new partnership between the SunTrust
Richmond Marathon and Donate Life is one we're very excited about."
Anyone interested in learning more about UNOS and LifeNet can visit their
websites at www.unos.org and www.lifenet.org
To learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to get involved at
the local level, visit www.shareyourlife.org or www.save7lives.org. You
can contact LifeNet at (800) 847-7831.
Media wishing more information can contact Scott Schricker of the SunTrust
Richmond Marathon at (804) 285-9495.
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