As many as 30 percent of the 18,000 runners who will participate in the ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® January 31, 2010 on the streets of Miami and Miami Beach will be running on behalf of their favorite charity. This commitment to goodwill is a significant element of the impact of the race as thousands of dollars are raised to enhance various causes throughout the South Florida community and the world.
Some of the charitable efforts will be in the forefront of the public eye such as Team World Vision, which now has made humanitarian aid to earthquake ravaged Haiti the focal point of its worldwide effort. The ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® has placed links on its website to try to drive attention toward the Haiti relief effort and runners are being encouraged to participate under the Team World Vision umbrella.
Other charitable initiatives include Team in Training benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Team Lifeline Benefiting Children with Cancer, Team 65 Roses benefitting Cystic Fibrosis, National MS Society South Florida chapter, Health Harbor Wellness Center, American Cancer Society DetermiNation Program, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, National Parkinson Foundation, Diabetes Research Institute, Gawad Kalinga, Food for Life Network, Run for Autism, His House Children's Home, the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation, and the Kids Bowl Free program.
"One of the important facets of the ING Miami Marathon is the participation of charities," said Dave Scott, General Manager for US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida and Race Director for the ING Miami Marathon. "Many runners enhance their marathon training by running for a charitable organization and a specific cause and end up making their running experience even more meaningful.
"Runners often begin their preparation for the marathon with training groups of the various charities. Encouraged by the camaraderie of fellow runners and running group team leaders, they are able to achieve their personal best times as well as achieve fundraising dollars. The efforts of these charitable groups within the running community are felt around the world. We encourage all of our runners to assist in whatever way they can."
Charities raised more than $3 million at the 2009 ING Miami Marathon. Charity runners in the ING Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon® make a donation to their charity of choice in lieu of paying their registration fee directly to the race. Then the charity registers its team with the race at a discounted rate, keeping the additional money it raises for its cause.
For example, teams of runners from Mission 500, Miami Vineyard Church, Miami Firefighters, Miami-Dade College and other South Florida organizations and individuals have trained for the ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon with Team World Vision to raise funds for Haiti. They mobilized under Operation Hope for Haiti, a network of South Florida community leaders in partnership with World Vision, who have been working to keep Haiti on the radar screen and provide sustained support since the hurricanes of 2008.
Since the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, these committed runners have become even more motivated and more runners are joining Team World Vision to raise awareness and funds to alleviate the intense suffering and grief of the devastated Haitian population.
All ING Miami Marathon participants not currently associated with a charity are being asked to run with Team World Vision or sponsor a Team WV runner. Team World Vision will now also participate in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Tropical 5K benefitting the Community Partnership for the Homeless on January 30h and is calling on all runners and walkers in South Florida to join them and Run/Walk for Haiti.
Runners interested in joining Team World Vision and running or walking for Haiti relief efforts should visit www.teamworldvision.org.
"As Haiti's closest American neighbor, we have a moral obligation to ensure Haiti is kept on the radar screen long after the focus of the world drifts past the harrowing headlines and images," said Julie Grimes, Chairperson of Operation Hope for Haiti. "The smallest steps lie in the heart of all movements. In solidarity, let us use our steps to help our neighbors move forward to a better life and ensure the world does not forget."
World Vision began distributing emergency relief supplies immediately after the quake rocked Haiti, since it had supplies pre-positioned for other disasters. In its race to respond and overcome the overwhelming challenges of getting relief assistance to those in need, World Vision is using all the resources at its disposal. With 800 Haitian staff already on the ground and international logistics and disaster response experts deployed, World Vision is launching humanitarian programs not only in the capital city, but also in rural areas and along the border. A World Vision airlift of 18 metric tons of supplies arrived January 15th, with more on the way.
"We have recognized the outstanding efforts of Team World Vision and their participation in various races managed by US Road Sports & Entertainment," said David Scott, General Manager of US Road Sports & Entertainment of Florida and Race Director of the ING Miami Marathon. "The impact they have both here in the United States and internationally has been significant and with the ING Miami Marathon just two weeks away, what better opportunity is presented to us than partnering with them for this event."
"With such a large Haitian population in our South Florida community, we want to do our part in assisting with the recovery efforts for the people of Haiti."
World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. It serves the world's poor -- regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
"We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of donors already," said President Rich Stearns of World Vision's United States office. "But this response will be a marathon, and we need people who will continue to run that race beside us."
Another example of charity participation is the Kids Bowl Free program, which provides free bowling for families nationwide which have children suffering from a chronic medical conditions. Runners participating under that banner are going to be running the ING Miami Half Marathon on January 31, 2010 with a goal of raising $100,000. Kids Bowl Free will be asking families that participated in the Kids Bowl Free program to train along with them and also have their children participate in raising funds for this great cause.
Handicapped Participants Bring Unique Stories To Ing Miami Marathon
Three men competing under the banner of Achilles International will each take different paths to the starting line of the ING Miami Marathon on Sunday, January 31.
Lance Benson was born without legs. Lanny Carrero, once a proud Marine, has endured the gradual effects of multiple sclerosis over the last 22 years. It took a car accident for quadriplegic Chris Holcomb to join them at the starting line.
The three South Florida men are bound by Achilles International, a worldwide organization that encourages people with disabilities to participate in running with the general public — with a common belief that athletic achievement has a positive effect on all areas of their lives.
There will be approximately 50 athletes with disabilities at the starting line of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon on January 31 in downtown Miami.
Benson, a 36-year-old married corporate real estate executive, will "run" the marathon on a skateboard. It was the Miami resident who spearheaded a drive to bring the Achilles organization to South Florida in 2005.
"I was kind of touched by what they were doing with war veterans," he said. "I just try to help out. Give them a hope and be a part of something greater."
Five years later, the South Florida chapter's nearly two dozen members and volunteers stretch from Palm Beach Gardens to Kendall. "A lot of these guys are dealing with things that they don't know how to deal with," said Benson. "They see me being able to adapt naturally and that provides a point of perspective for them."
Benson has always been an athlete despite his disability from birth. As a youngster growing up in Raleigh, NC, he wrestled for his high school varsity team and competed in weightlifting. At 118 pounds, he could already bench press 336 pounds.
Now a veteran marathoner, Benson's skateboarding style is unique. "The way I do marathons is not about competing, but about the spirit," he says. "My hands are touching the ground directly, just as a runners feet are in contact with the ground."
Carrero, 44, found Achilles International through the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach. A rehabilitation bike that assisted with balance issues brought on by MS gave the Palm Beach Gardens resident his start. He now rides a racing bike and has completed four marathons.
"It rekindled that spirit and drive for competition when they stepped in my life," said Carrero of Achilles. "I wasn't ready to accept my disabilities. Achilles lit the fire. It's not what you can't do but what you can do."
Carrero's first neurological attack came when as a 22-year-old Marine his "right side went numb and I couldn't walk or grasp an object." Eventually more frequent episodes caused him to be discharged from the Armed Forces. A subsequent 9-year stint with the Broward Sheriff's office ended when there was further deterioration in his motor skills. Carrero now plays "Mr. Mom" to his two children while his wife works.
For Holcomb, a 39-year old single parent, life changed in an instant in 2004 when he snapped his neck in an automobile accident in Vero Beach. After 48 days in a chemically induced coma and another month in Jackson Memorial's spinal cord unit, Holcomb began life as a quadriplegic.
A transformation came about in 2006 when he went to his first meeting for Quad Rugby in a motorized wheelchair.
‘What are you doing in a power chair?' he was mocked.
"That was the last day I used it," the Palm Beach resident said of his switch to a manual chair. "From that point on my life changed. I learned that with proper technique and a good attitude I could live a successful and independent life."
Holcomb has worked for Global Telecommunications since he was 19, and was able to return to the company two years after his accident.
"My journey has been a blessing," says Holcomb, who counts skydiving on his list of accomplishments since his accident. "My injury has been an opportunity to experience things I never would have otherwise. I'm not afraid to do anything anymore."
In 2009 while attending a meeting of the Spinal Cord Injury Support Group of South Florida, Holcomb was introduced to Achilles International. In his first marathon in Palm Beach last December, he competed in a 27-gear hand-cranked bike designed for mobility.
"As long as you have arm strength you can do it.," he says. "Hills and sharp turns are the biggest challenges for me. The Rickenbacker Causeway is going to be a big challenge."
The ING Miami Marathon is another opportunity for the three to demonstrate that hard work and determination can overcome adversity.
"It's a tremendous feeling to participate," says Holcomb. "Achilles makes that happen. They provide the resources and encouragement."
"The Miami Marathon is in my back yard," said Benson. "It's my city. I have a passion about it and do my best to make sure the city shines in the best light."
About US Road Sports
US Road Sports & Entertainment Group, LP is a Dallas-based company dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events. The mission of US Road Sports is to offer an unparalleled participant sports experience that showcases host communities and endures as a deeply valued local asset through events that are a part of the city's culture, identity and brand. For each participant, US Road Sports strives to offer events that allow participants of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health and accomplish life-altering goals while having fun. US Road Sports provides sponsors and municipalities highly effective exposure to help maximize their presence and message in the community.
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