FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charities Enjoy Tremendous Success at 38th Marine Corps Marathon
Over $5 Million Raised During Event Held October 27 in
Arlington, VA and Nation's Capital
QUANTICO, VA (Dec. 19, 2013) - Charities who partner with the Marine Corps
Marathon (MCM) annually enjoy the fruits of their fundraising while runners
successfully train on behalf of significant causes. This year, MCM charity
runners have gone far above expectations garnering just over $5 million
dollars for 131 charitable organizations. These efforts have resulted in an
overall charitable increase in excess of $1.5 million raised over last
year's marathon event.
The MCM held on Oct. 27 in Arlington, VA and throughout the nation's
capital hosted 7,100 affiliated runners. Each MCM Charity Partner enlisted
between 25 and 750 runners to participate in either the marathon (26.2
mile) or MCM10K (6.2 mile) while raising money for their cause. Many
charities required runners to only raise a few hundred dollars in order to
participate in "The People's Marathon." But runners enthusiastically
superseded charity goals, with some raising as much as $10,000 to $20,000
individually.
"One of our runners raised $15,000 this year, which was impressive since we
had a $300 fundraising requirement," said Douglas Taggart of Azalea
Charities Inc. The Azalea charity team included 248 participants who raised
a total of $149,763 at this year's MCM. Azalea Charities provides aid for
Wounded Warriors internationally, while also supporting youth and special
needs projects in Northern Virginia. The charity has participated in the
MCM for the past six years.
The Fisher House Foundation has been a Charity Partner for the past eight
MCMs, achieving what can be called a "return on investment" as nearly 20
percent of Fisher House runners return to participate in the MCM year after
year. As one of the larger MCM Charity Partners, Fisher House raised
$450,000 at this year's MCM while achieving a $20,000 increase over the
amount raised last year. Fisher House Program Director Cathy Cabrey
believes their continued success at the MCM is also due to 350 Fisher House
volunteers who are stationed throughout the marathon course ringing cow
bells, cheering on their team of runners and even volunteering at a water
point along the marathon course. "Our runners are very happy with the
on-course support we offer our team," Cabrey says. "From about Mile 10 to
26, volunteers are cheering on our runners."
Both Cabrey and Taggart immediately jumped on the opportunity to partner
with the MCM as 2014 Charity Program information recently was distributed
to all of the organizations. "I signed on just twenty minutes after the MCM
Charity Program opened," said Taggart. "We are very happy to be with the
Marine Corps Marathon, which in turn helps us support our Wounded."
Because Charity Partners responded so quickly, the MCM is no longer able to
enroll new charity teams for the 2014 marathon but charities still can
acquire team entries for the Marine Corps Historic Half that will be held
on Sunday, May 18 in Fredericksburg, VA. In spring of 2014, runners will be
able to affiliate with organizations to acquire access to the 39th MCM on
Oct. 26.
"Charity runners bring great heart and enthusiasm to 'The People's
Marathon,'" says Director Rick Nealis. "We are pleased to engage with these
organizations through the MCM and Historic Half in support of their
significant causes."
Charity organizers interested in obtaining entries for the Marine Corps
Historic Half should contact MCM Charity Coordinator Allan Aquino at
or 703-432-1241.
The 39th MCM will open online lottery registration to the public on Feb. 23
at www.marinemarathon.com.
The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is the third largest marathon in the United
States, eighth largest in the world and voted "Best Marathon in the Mid
Atlantic" and "Best Marathon for Spectators." The MCM honors the
dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Also known as
"The People's Marathon," runners from all walks of life participate in the
MCM, which is the largest marathon not to offer prize money. The 40th MCM
will be held on October 26, 2013 in Arlington, VA. No federal or Marine
Corps endorsement is implied.
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