FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Surf City USA Marathon's "Run For Mobility" Nears $2 Million Fundraising
Threshold; Offers Free Half Marathon "Team-Training-Together" Program
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – For the sixth consecutive year, the Surf City
USA® Marathon is partnering with the Irvine-based Free Wheelchair Mission
for a fundraising event that is directly responsible for changing the lives
of nearly 38,000 disabled people worldwide. The innovative "Run for
Mobility" (Sunday, February 6, 2011) encourages all runners to use the Surf
City Marathon, Half Marathon and all-new One Mile run/walk as a way to
raise funds that send specially engineered wheelchairs to needy and
developing nations. Detailed information is available at
www.runsurfcity.com and www.runformobility.org.
An alliance forged in 2006, Surf City USA Marathon runners have raised more
than $1,800,000 and, when stretched wheel to wheel, the wheelchairs
distributed with these proceeds would cover the entire 26.2 mile beachfront
course. With a target goal of $300,000 and 5,000 additional wheelchairs
for 2011, Run for Mobility has implemented several exciting programs to
encourage participation: race for free if you raise $500 by race day, the
inaugural Team-Training-Together, or T3, a free training program for first
time and seasoned runners and a new "Face of the Race" fundraiser spotlight
on the Run for Mobility Facebook page.
Led by veteran running coach Thomas Miller, T³ provides coached groups
every other week as well as valuable tips on proper hydration, nutrition,
effective cross training, flexibility, and other relevant run related
topics. Participants receive a comprehensive training program
incorporating all the essential components of a safe and effective half
marathon training regimen. The group meets every other Saturday at 8 AM at
the Huntington Beach Pier. Remaining dates include 12/4, 12/18, 1/1, 1/15
and 1/29.
"The Run for Mobility is one of Free Wheelchair Mission's most valued
partnerships. It gives runners the ability to provide the transforming
gift of a wheelchair around the world," said Free Wheelchair Mission
founder Don Schoendorfer. A recipient of the U.S. House of Representatives
'Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition' in March, Schoendorfer
added, "Run for Mobility has become a cornerstone of our annual fund
raising efforts and would not be possible without the support of the entire
Surf City Marathon management team."
"It's truly amazing to think that our race in Huntington Beach has impacted
so many needy people across the globe," said Surf City USA Marathon General
Manager Amy Tomchak. "There are few opportunities to make such a
significant impact on so many lives and running for those who can't is a
great way to make the race more meaningful for everyone involved."
Globally, Free Wheelchair Mission has manufactured and shipped 521,000
wheelchairs to 77 countries since it was launched in 2001. While
conventional wheelchairs can cost between $500 and $30,000, Schoendorfer, a
mechanical engineer, developed an inexpensive version; a simple contraption
made from a plastic lawn chair and 24-inch mountain bike tires. One
wheelchair costs under $60.00 to be manufactured, shipped and be
distributed overseas.
ABOUT FREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION
Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished
disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM
works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian,
faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds
of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility,
but of dignity, independence, and hope. More information is available at
www.freewheelchairmission.org.
ABOUT SURF CITY USA MARATHON
The Surf City USA Marathon, which serves as a "qualifier" for the
prestigious Boston Marathon, was rated among the top five marathon
experiences in America by Marathon and Beyond. The award-winning course is
scenic and flat with much of the race taking place on the beachfront
running path, but also featuring the famed pier, beauty of the Bolsa Chica
Wetlands and serenity of Central Park. More than 30,000 spectators from
all 50 states and 19 foreign countries are anticipated to pack the downtown
and outlying areas.
The 15th Surf City USA Marathon is held on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011
and plays host to over 20,000 runners from around the world. Staged in
front of The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton hotel, this exclusive
oceanfront course runs on Pacific Coast Highway, past the famous Huntington
Beach Pier and winds through the surfing beaches that define Southern
California. Weekend highlights include the two-day Active Lifestyle Beach
Expo and Michelob Ultra Post Race Beer Garden. Through Free Wheelchair
Mission's Run for Mobility, the race as raised more than $1.8 million over
the past six years and distributed nearly 38,000 specially engineered
wheelchairs to needy and developing nations. More information is available
at www.runsurfcity.com.
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