For Immediate Release
Contact:
Peter Nantell
Chronicle Marathon Race Director
peter_nantell@westendmanagement.com
(415) 284-9653
25th ANNIVERSARY CHRONICLE MARATHON WEEKEND
July 26-28 In San Francisco
3-Day Festival Includes Free Health & Wellness
Expo Plus Prize Money Races on Sunday
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 17, 2002) Runners and walkers by the thousands
are expected at the Chronicle Marathon on Sunday, July 28. This year's
event marks the 25th anniversary of the marathon in San Francisco. In
addition to the 26.2-mile marathon, activities will also include a half
marathon, a 4-person relay marathon, a 5K (3.1-mile) Community Run/Walk,
and a Health & Wellness Expo that is free and open to the public.
Complete details and race registration are available through the event
web site. (www.ChronicleMarathon.com)
The 2002 Chronicle Marathon, which benefits local charities, will start
and finish at Justin Herman Plaza. To minimize traffic impact, organizers
will start the marathon race at 6:00AM and course changes will have
participants running along the Bay and through Golden Gate Park for much
of the 26.2 miles.
The marathon and half marathon races feature a total of $10,000 in prize
money to be distributed among the male and female winners in each of the
events as well as the first master (age 40 and over) runners. In
addition, the first place male and female San Francisco residents in the
marathon will also share in the prize money.
The 2002 Chronicle Marathon Health & Wellness Expo will be held July
26-28 outdoors at Justin Herman Plaza, across the Embarcadero from the
Ferry Building, at the corner of Market & Steuart Streets. The Expo will
feature more than 60 vendors, event registration, official event
merchandise, and T-shirt/bag distribution. Fitness experts will be on
hand to lead a series of free seminars. A complete schedule of events is
available at the event web site. (www.ChronicleMarathon.com)
Admission to the Health & Wellness Expo and to the seminars is free and
open to the general public. The Expo hours will be Friday, July 26, 11:00
AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday, July 27, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; and Sunday, July
28, 7:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
What's Happening & When?
2002 Chronicle Marathon Schedule of Events
Fri July 26, 11:00AM - 7:00 PM Health & Wellness Expo
Sat July 27, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Health & Wellness Expo
Sun July 28, 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Health & Wellness Expo
Sat July 27, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Pasta Feed
Sun July 28, 6:00 AM - Marathon Start
Sun July 28, 7:45 AM - Half Marathon Start
Sun July 28, 6:00 AM - 4-Person Marathon Relay Start
Sun July 28, 8:00 AM - 5K Community Run/Walk Start
Why Run or Walk?
Sunday's Chronicle Marathon raises funds to benefit local charities
including:
*The Bay Area Fire Department's Emergency Response Team Program
www.sfnert.org
*The Volunteer Center of San Francisco www.vcsf.org
*The Bay Area Red Cross www.bayarea-redcross.org
*Child Abuse Prevention Society www.sfcapc.org
*Treatment On Demand Substance Abuse Project
www.dph.sf.ca.us/php/substanceabuse.htm
*America True: Programs for At-Risk Youth
www.americatrue.org/youth/index.cfm
*Oceana www.oceana.org
*Organs 'R' Us www.therelay.com/organs/indexmain.html
*Suicide Prevention www.sfsuicide.org/
For complete details on the 2002 Chronicle Marathon beneficiaries and how
to make a contribution or sponsor a runner, check out
www.ChronicleMarathon.com/2002/funds_charities.html.
What About Traffic?
To minimize traffic impact, organizers will start the marathon race at
6:00AM, with the slowest runners taking off at 5:00AM, and course changes
will have participants running along the Bay and through Golden Gate Park
for much of the 26.2 miles. Traffic in the City is expected to flow with
few delays. Complete details including course maps and street closures is
available online at (www.ChronicleMarathon.com/2002/funds_charities.html)
****************************
The 2002 Chronicle Marathon is sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle,
KPIX Channel 5, SFGate.com, 96.5 KOIT, UPN 44/Digital 45/Cable 12, San
Francisco Toyota, Albertson's, GU Energy Gel, GU2O Hydration Drink,
Centrum Performance Energy Nutrition Bar, the San Francisco Municipal
Railway, the Port of San Francisco, Webb Design, the Embarcadero Center,
and the San Francisco Road Runners Club.
****************************
2002 Chronicle Marathon San Francisco Official Charities include:
The Bay Area Fire Department's Emergency Response Team Program,
www.sfnert.org
After the Loma Prieta earthquake, the San Francisco Fire Department
created and trained citizen-based volunteer Neighborhood Emergency
Response Teams (NERT) to enable people to care for themselves, their
families, and their neighbors after a disaster, particularly during the
first 72 hours. The NERT program provides 18 hours of training covering a
variety of preparation information and response skills. Though designed
primarily as a response to a large, regional earthquake, the training is
applicable to any kind of disaster.
The Volunteer Center of San Francisco, www.vcsf.org
The Volunteer Center of San Francisco stands ready to mobilize and deploy
volunteers in times of disaster, supporting local agencies in rescue
efforts and in providing aid to victims. Today and every day, people
throughout the Bay Area are fed and clothed and comforted by volunteers.
The Volunteer Center turns "How can I help?" into action through training
and matching volunteers with more than a thousand local nonprofits
working to end homelessness, protect our environment, mentor youth, care
for the sick, and more. Your financial support is multiplied through the
work of many hands.
The Bay Area Red Cross, www.bayarea-redcross.org
Any major emergency in the Bay Area affects every citizen. The American
Red Cross Bay Area works with volunteers to ensure that the Bay Area is
ready to respond. Funds raised locally are used locally to provide
CPR/First Aid training, outreach to vulnerable populations, and a new
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) designed to ensure a coordinated and
efficient disaster response.
Child Abuse Prevention Society, www.sfcapc.org
The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Society (CAPS) believes that
every child deserves a childhood free of violence, abuse, and neglect. By
promoting healthy families, preventing child abuse, and raising public
awareness, CAPS helps to assure that every child gets a nurturing start
in life. CAPS owns and maintains a facility that houses the programs of
the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and they provide
financial and hands-on volunteer support to ensure the ongoing success of
those programs and goals.
Treatment On Demand Substance Abuse Project,
www.dph.sf.ca.us/php/substanceabuse.htm
Run by the San Francisco Health Department, TOD helps those battling
substance abuse issues. Too many people who are willing and ready to
enter treatment services are, in effect, denied services due to the
limited treatment capacity currently available. San Francisco is one of
three pilot cities engaged in the process of community-focused health
planning in hopes of providing better treatment and facilities.
America True: Programs for At-Risk Youth,
www.americatrue.org/youth/index.cfm
The America True Foundation works in partnership with the YMCA, YWCA,
Boys and Girls Clubs, and other inner city youth programs to provide free
sailing experiences to at-risk youth in San Francisco, surrounding
communities, and across the United States. Girls and boys in America True
Sailing Programs have the opportunity to learn about the sport of sailing
and find empowerment in themselves. They learn leadership, teamwork,
safety, environmental respect, risk assessment, how to make good choices,
and of course, they learn how to sail. This program makes a difference to
2500 children each year.
Oceana, www.oceana.org
Oceana is a non-profit, international advocacy organization created with
the sole purpose of protecting the world's oceans to sustain the circle
of life. Oceana brings together dedicated people from around the world,
building an international movement to save the oceans through public
policy advocacy, science and economics, legal action, grassroots
mobilization, and public education.
Organs 'R' Us, www.therelay.com/organs/indexmain.html
Organs 'R' Us ("ORU") is a California non-profit public benefit
corporation whose members include transplant recipients and candidates,
family members, and friends all committed to promoting awareness about
the critical shortage of donor organs. An American dies every two hours
while waiting for an organ transplant, in part because less than
one-third of potential organ donors actually donate. More than half of
the commitments to donate organs are rescinded by surviving family
members after a potential donor's passing. To solve this medical crisis,
ORU works to increase awareness, provide educational materials, and
encourage family discussions about organ donation.
San Francisco Suicide Prevention, www.sfsuicide.org/
San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) is the oldest volunteer crisis
line in the United States. It was founded in 1963 with the initial focus
of providing telephone intervention to people experiencing suicidal
crisis. Over the years, the focus of the agency has changed from strictly
suicide prevention to more general counseling services including
crisis/suicide, drug/alcohol dependencies, AIDS/HIV, and domestic abuse.
A Spanish-speaking crisis line service has been added and more recently a
support group has been established for those family and friends who have
lost someone to suicide.
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