INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, October 4, 2001)- Anyone who owns a pair of running or walking shoes is invited on November 4 to “Run for America” to raise money for the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks on the United States.
An historic, joint effort between USA Track & Field (USATF), Runner’s World, the New York Road Runners Club, Inc., the Road Runners Club of America and Running USA, the Run for America is a “virtual run/walk,” held November 4 to coincide with the New York City Marathon. All proceeds from the Run for America will go to the American Red Cross, the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund and the Twin Towers Fund.
Run for America is organized much like any road race. To take part, entrants must register at the Run for America Web site – www.runforamerica.com – and select the “race” in which they will participate on November 4 and the charity to which they would like to donate. Running events offered range from 1 mile to 100K, with walking events from 1 mile to 20K.
For a $15 donation/”entry fee,” participants will be entered in the “race” and can download a special Run for America race bib. On November 4, entrants will run or walk their “race” and will have the opportunity to post essays and photos about their Run for America experience on www.runforamerica.com.
“The Run for America will ‘virtually’ bring people from around the world together on a single day, just as Runner’s World, The New York Road Runners, Running USA, and the Road Runners Club of America came together to make this project happen,” said USATF CEO Craig Masback. “It is our hope that Run for America is able to positively affect the lives of the September 11th survivors, as well as the lives of the participants in Run for America.”
“One of the great things about Run for America is that any person, at any fitness level, can take part,” said USATF President Bill Roe. “The tragedies of September 11th have brought people together in an amazing way. It is in that spirit that the Run for America is being held.”
Participants may also enter the times they ran on November 4, to be compiled within the “official” results for various distances, allowing participants to see where they stand against other Run for America participants around the country and the world. Entrants can use their daily run/walk, a special group event, or a race that they have already planned to compete in as their Run for America “race.” Youth, high school and college cross-country runners are also encouraged to join the Run for America.
For additional donations, entrants can purchase a Run for America long-sleeved t-shirt and/or a Runner’s World Run for America button. Several Team USA items autographed by top stars and other memorabilia will be given away in a random drawing as well.
For more information on the Run for America, visit the official Web site: www.runforamerica.com.
The Charities
American Red Cross
American Red Cross disaster assistance is provided to people in need without charge. Donations will help provide support for people in need following the Sept. 11 disaster as well as emerging human needs resulting from this tragedy. For more information, visit www.redcross.org
Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund
This Fund is designed to provide educational assistance for post-secondary education to financially needy children and spouses of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the tragedies of September 11. The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund will benefit children and spouses of the victims, including airplane crew and passengers, World Trade Center and Pentagon employees and visitors, and relief workers, including firemen and policemen.
For more information, visit www.familiesoffreedom.com
Twin Towers Fund
New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has established the Twin Towers Fund to assist the families of the members of the uniformed services of the NYC Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Services Command, the NYC Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State Office of Court Administration and other government offices who lost their lives or were injured because of the tragedies of September 11, 2001.
Contact:
Jill M. Geer
Director of Communications
317-261-0500
jill.geer@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org
http://www.runforamerica.com