FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville's Premier Road Race Rebrands as
St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
• Race was previously known as the Country Music Marathon since 2001
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital returns as title partner and
official race charity
• 2016 race event will take place on Saturday, April 30; Online
registration opens today
NASHVILLE – Sept. 15, 2015 – Nashville's iconic race is singing a new tune
next year as the event is rebranding to become the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll
Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, which has been formerly known as the
Country Music Marathon since 2001. The historic Nashville race will be
further integrated into the Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon Series global brand,
which includes 30 destination events taking place around the world each
year. Additionally, the name change aligns with Music City's diverse
foundation that features musical artists spanning all genres of music, not
just country music.
"Nashville grew from a foundation built on music, and while country music
is a pivotal piece of that, it's not the only genre that defines Music
City," said Josh Furlow, President of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.
"The rock and roll genre roots itself in a spectrum of music styles
including bluegrass, jazz, folk, soul and of course country. Our goal is to
celebrate Nashville as a destination for live music and running by linking
the historical race with the power of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon brand."
"This race has always been an event that creates excitement every year
around being active and healthy," said City of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.
"Nashville prides itself on being Music City, and we hope everyone will
embrace the new motto 'Run Music City' with the renamed race."
St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville will provide a similar race experience to
years past, while emphasizing a broader integration of music. Runners will
tour some of Music City's most notable hot spots and attractions, with
thousands of spectators lining the course to cheer on participants. The
race will once again start in downtown Nashville on Broadway, travel
through some of Nashville's iconic locations such as Belmont University,
the Tennessee State Capitol Building, Shelby Park and the Cumberland River,
before finishing at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.
"What originally started as the Country Music Marathon 17 years ago has
evolved into an event that annually attracts more than 30,000 visitors from
around the world," said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville
Convention and Visitors Corp. "We're excited that the event's new name
celebrates the diversity of music genres thriving in Music City, and we
look forward to participants being part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
Series as they run Music City."
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, will return as the title partner
and official charity of the 2016 St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon.
Last year more than 3,000 St. Jude Heroes participated in the race, raising
over $2 million for the hospital by securing donations from family, friends
and co-workers. Funds raised from St. Jude are instrumental in supporting
the $2 million per day it takes to run the hospital and allow families to
never receive a bill for St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
For more information on the event, visit www.RunRocknRoll.com/Nashville and
follow St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon on Twitter @RunRocknRoll
with hashtag #RunMusicCity.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world
understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.
St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for the most aggressive
childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the
overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since
we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall
survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St.
Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St.
Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save
thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for
treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry
about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting
stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and
twitter.com/stjude.
About the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
The St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon will celebrate
its 17th running in the Music City on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Featuring
many of Nashville's best live bands on 28 stages along the 26.2 and
13.1-mile courses, the musically themed road race annually attracts more
than 30,000 runners, walkers and junior racers. Saturday's marathon and
half marathon conclude with a nighttime Toyota Rock 'n' Roll Concert Series
headliner performance at the Bridgestone Arena. Race weekend kicks off with
a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 28. KiDS ROCK Nashville
presented by YMCA of Middle Tennessee, a one-mile fun run for children
K-12, takes place on Sunday, May 1. For more information, please visit
RunRocknRoll.com/Nashville or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter with hashtag
#RunMusicCity.
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