FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRANDI CHASTAIN AND KERRI STRUG WILL 'GO FOR THE ORANGE'
AT 2008 ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
Olympic gold medalists support ING's Run for Something Better program;
encourage children to embrace a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness
and running.
Former soccer star Brandi Chastain and former gymnastics sensation Kerri
Strug will trade in their old Team USA uniforms for orange running jerseys
as they take on their next athletic challenge -- the 2008 ING New York City
Marathon.
On Sunday, November 2, 2008, Chastain and Strug will partner with global
financial services leader ING as they join nearly 40,000 participants for
one of the world's premier distance running events. The two will also
serve as ambassadors for the ING Run for Something Better, a national
program that promotes youth fitness and provides funding for free community
and school-based running programs across the country.
During the marathon, Chastain and Strug will each wear a pair of ING's
signature orange shoelaces. These laces are given to anyone who makes a
charitable donation of $10 or more to the ING Run for Something Better
cause. ING's orange laces are available at www.orangelaces.com. The two
champions will also raise money for the program through fundraising
websites where fans can go to support their efforts. These websites can be
accessed at: www.orangelaces.com/nyc.
"Brandi and Kerri are two fantastic athletes who have 'gone for the gold'
in their lives. We're thrilled that they will now 'go for the orange' in
this year's ING New York City Marathon," said Ann Glover, chief marketing
officer for ING's operations in the Americas. "Both women set incredibly
high goals for themselves at a young age and worked hard to achieve them.
This is exactly what the ING Run for Something Better program is all about.
ING is excited that their support will help spread our positive message
about youth running and fitness."
"As an elite soccer player, I learned the value of physical fitness early
on in life. I also know that being healthy as a child can lead to good
habits as an adult," said Chastain. "By participating in the ING Run for
Something Better program and running in the marathon, I hope to encourage
thousands of children in New York City and across the country to embrace
physical activity and create their own personal fitness goals."
"Competing as a world-class gymnast demanded a healthy lifestyle," noted
Strug. As a young girl, and then as a teenager, I was always focused on
proper exercise, training, and nutrition so that I could be successful at
the highest level. Today, these things are still very important to me,
especially as I pursue my current passion – running. I am excited to be
partnering with ING and supporting the ING Run for Something Better so that
others kids can learn these same values."
Chastain and Strug have both achieved national fame in their sports. Their
athletic accomplishments include Olympic gold medals and incredible
performances that will live in the hearts and minds of Americans for years
to come.
As a member of the U.S. women's national soccer team, Chastain participated
in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and helped the Americans win the gold
medal by playing every minute of every U.S. game. She is best known for
her game-winning penalty kick against China in the 1999 FIFA Women's World
Cup final – perhaps the greatest goal in U.S women's soccer history.
Strug was a member of the "Magnificent Seven," the gymnastics team that
also represented the U.S. at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Despite a
serious ankle injury, she overcame adversity and performed a stunning vault
to help clinch a gold medal for the women's team competition – one of the
most memorable moments in Olympic history.
Between the two athletes, they have won five Olympic medals -- three gold,
one silver and one bronze-- and two World Cup championships.
In the U.S., childhood obesity has become a serious health epidemic.
Educating kids about the importance of living an active and healthy life is
the cornerstone of the ING Run for Something Better. Since 2003, over
30,000 children have participated in ING Run for Something Better programs
in cities where ING sponsors long-distance running events. Children in
these programs have reached a milestone of running more than one million
miles. In the New York City-area, the successful program is organized by
ING's race partner, the New York Road Runners.
Currently, the ING Run for Something Better has provided more than
$1,000,000 to school and community organizations that support running and
fitness initiatives -- and has committed over $2,000,000 through 2010.
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