Press Release - Little Rock Marathon - 8/14/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                         Contact: Geneva Hampton
                                                  (501) 371-4639
                                                  
                                                  Gina Marchese Pharis
                                                  (501) 918-5321 
                                                  

  Mississippi Native To Run Little Rock Marathon Course Tomorrow Morning 
   His 47th Marathon in 47 Days Raising Money and Awareness To Keep The     
 Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Going In the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 

WHO: Sam Thompson, Run For Hope
     Gina Pharis, Little Rock Marathon Race Director

WHAT: Avid Ultra Marathoner to run Little Rock Marathon course.  
      His 47th marathon in 47 days, in 47 states.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 15, 2006  6 am
      anticipated finish 9:30 to 10:00 am

WHERE: Little Rock Marathon Start Line
       Capital and Cross Streets

WHY:
To raise both awareness of the devastation that still remains along the
Mississippi Gulf Coast left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and funds in
order to continue the work of rebuilding homes and lives in the area.  To
run fifty marathons (26.2 miles) in all fifty states in fifty consecutive
days.  These will all be timed, certified marathon courses, though most 
will not be run on the actual marathon race day.  Sam began in Colorado on 
July 1 and will finish running August 19, 2006 on the Mississippi Coast.  

BACKGROUND:
Sam Thompson, an avid ultra marathoner and a Mississippi native, has been 
in the small town of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi since the day after 
Hurricane Katrina came ashore on August 29, 2005.  He established what 
began as a small relief effort operating in the First Presbyterian Church, 
and has since blossomed into what is now an operation employing on average 
more than 100 volunteers daily.  This operation serves mainly the Bay St.
Louis/Waveland area, and strives to aid those most in need, though the need
is so great for all.  After completing a run of the entire Appalachian 
Trail (over 2,000 miles) about two years ago, Sam had the idea and 
compulsion to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states.  Because of the 
idea's idyllic touching of people both on the local and national level, it 
seemed the perfect voyage to reawaken the nation to the struggles that 
still remain on the Gulf Coast.  

Day of contact:
Kirsten Sellereit, 206-550-1610

For more information, visit www.50in50in50.com. 

Photo opportunities and interviews are available.

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