FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Official Starters of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon,
McDonald's Half Marathon, and HCA Virginia 8k Named
RICHMOND, VA - Sports Backers announced today the official starters of the
November 13 SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald's Half Marathon, and HCA
Virginia 8k.
SunTrust Richmond Marathon - John Ivins and sons Jack and Jim John Ivins,
husband of former Sports Backers board member and SunTrust Richmond
Marathon runner Kathy Ivins, and their two sons Jack and Jim will be the
official starters of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. Kathy lost her battle
to cancer over the summer at age 54. The Ivins family will be at the Health
& Fitness Expo handing out Team Kathy t-shirts and wristbands to those that
wish to wear one in the November 13 races.
McDonald's Half Marathon - Christopher Nalley and Dr. Mark Robbins
Christopher Nalley grew up with Cystic Fibrosis, was malnourished and on
the edge of death when a double lung transplant at the University of
Virginia saved his life in 2006. Chris is running the McDonald's Half
Marathon with the surgeon who performed his lung transplant, Mark Robbins,
MD. For 13.1 miles, Dr. Robbins will hear the lungs that he once held in
his hands operating at full capacity.
HCA Virginia 8k - David Edmondson, Meghan Hodgins and Kendall Hodgins
David Edmondson participated in the 8k in 2008 in the wheelchair division
while on the waiting list for a heart. In 2009, he stood with the Donate
Life team on the sidelines as a recent heart recipient. Now he is stronger
and able to participate once again in the 8k, this time without the
wheelchair.
This year, at The National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games where he
won a bronze medal in table tennis, David met Meghan Hodgins and her
12-year-old adopted daughter, Kendall, who is a kidney recipient. Seven
whirlwind weeks later, David and Meghan are engaged to be married. On race
day, the three will act as starters for the HCA Virginia 8k and then
participate in the event together.
Donate Life:
Donate Life Virginia is the official race beneficiary of the SunTrust
Richmond Marathon. Organ, eye and tissue donation saves and enhances lives.
Every Virginian can choose to become a donor by registering at the DMV or
online at www.DonateLifeVirginia.org.
"Donate Life Virginia is proud to partner with Sports Backers and the
SunTrust Richmond Marathon to help raise awareness across the state that
every Virginian has the power to register to give the gift of life," said
Cindy Speas, President of Donate Life Virginia.
Online registration for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, McDonald's Half
Marathon and HCA Virginia 8k is available at www.richmondmarathon.org until
11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10. Walk-up registration will be
available at the Health & Fitness Expo at the Arthur Ashe Center on
Thursday, November 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday, November 12 from 11 a.m.
to 9 p.m. There is no race day registration or packet pick-up.
###
|
