July 30, 2013
FOR RELEASE
July 30, 2013
CONTACTS:
Jason Altman, Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Race Director, 865-805-2476,
or:
Jennifer Lawson, Moxley Carmichael, 865-544-0088,
or:
Amy Styles, Covenant Health, 865-437-6599
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News conference featured: Knoxville Track Club presenting benefit check to Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center’s Innovative Recreation Cooperative, announcement of sponsorship for next three years, and a group of runners who have run all nine marathons and also plan to run 10th.
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon will continue for three more years, Covenant Health announced today during a news conference that also celebrated the upcoming 10th annual marathon. Covenant Health has sponsored the event for the past nine years and committed to sponsoring the series of races for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
“The marathon is a fantastic event for this community that fits Covenant Health’s mission to improve the quality of life in East Tennessee through better health,” said Tony Spezia, president and CEO of Covenant Health.
“The weekend of events for children, adults and people with disabilities promotes health and fitness while raising funds that benefit important nonprofit programs and charities. For these reasons, Covenant Health is proud to sponsor the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Knoxville Marathons.”
Race Director Jason Altman said the collaboration of Covenant Health and the Knoxville Track Club has benefited the community and both organizations.
“The partnership formed between the Knoxville Track Club and Covenant Health since the inaugural event has been wonderful,” Altman said. “We are thrilled to continue this partnership through 2016 and with their support will be able to continue to produce a world-class event.”
About 7,500 adults and children participated in the six marathon-related events in April 2013.
Altman announced that online registration for the 2014 event opens Aug. 1, and in recognition of the marathon’s 10th year, everyone who registers during the first 10 days of August will receive a $10 discount off the fee for the full and half marathons, 2- and 4-person relays or 5k. The fee for the kids run is $10 through Aug. 10.
The 20 runners who have maintained a streak of participating in all nine full marathons will receive complimentary entry into the 2014 10th anniversary event. In addition one of the first 100 runners registered will have his/her name drawn to win a Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS running watch. In addition, the online processing fee has been abolished.
The 2014 marathon is set for Sunday, March 30, with the Covenant Kids Run scheduled for Saturday, March 29.
The Fittest Company Challenge and the Fittest School Challenge will again be part of the excitement leading up to and following the marathon weekend, along with the Health & Fitness Exposition held on Saturday before the kids run.
Proceeds from the marathon benefit the Knoxville Track Club’s scholarship and community fitness programs. In addition, a portion of the proceeds benefit Covenant Health’s Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center’s Innovative Recreation Cooperative (IRC), which encourages people with disabilities to pursue leisure and sports activities, including hand-cycling, which is one of the race categories in the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.
“As a nonprofit organization, the Knoxville Track Club is committed to giving back to our community through proceeds raised through the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. It is an honor and a privilege to present Patricia Neal Innovative Recreation Cooperative with a check today,” Altman said, and presented the IRC with a check for $3,661.
For more information on all marathon events, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com or call 865-684-4294.
