BALTIMORE, MD — MAY 6, 2010 – Each year, thousands of athletes participate in notable running events across the nation such as the ING New York City Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon & Half Marathon. Many of those runners are also raising awareness and millions of dollars to fight cancer through their participation in DetermiNation, the American Cancer Society’s new endurance event training program. Through a nationwide expansion of DetermiNation, Baltimore-area athletes of all abilities will be able to dedicate their training and race experiences to the Society’s mission of fighting cancer and saving lives.
In Baltimore, the American Cancer Society is recruiting runners of all levels, whether weekend joggers, first-time race participants, or seasoned road warriors, to participate in its DetermiNation program at the Baltimore Running Festival on October 16, 2010. DetermiNation participants receive professional training by local company, Charm City Run, access to social events, team support, race day VIP amenities and racing gear. Participants commit to a personal fundraising goal and run the event’s marathon or half-marathon in honor or memory of a loved one affected by any type of cancer. Volunteers are also needed to help recruit and support DetermiNation participants and assist in event planning.
Funds raised by DetermiNation participants support the American Cancer Society’s free programs and resources for cancer patients and caregivers. Donations made to fuel a DetermiNation runner’s personal fundraising goal help the Society continue offering free lodging, transportation to treatment, support groups and patient services, including nutritional counseling and financial assistance.
“DetermiNation represents the hard work, strength and commitment needed to compete in an endurance race. These are the same qualities we see of patients fighting cancer every day,” said Eric Heydorn, endurance events manager for the American Cancer Society. “When someone joins our DetermiNation program, the training required to run a marathon or half-marathon often becomes more personally significant as they not only run for themselves, but they run for a loved one impacted by cancer.”
DetermiNation was born out of a program called Charity Runner, which was begun in 1996 by an individual in the American Cancer Society’s Illinois Division who wanted to run a marathon in memory of a friend he had recently lost to cancer. Because of the program’s rapid growth, the Society decided to expand this initiative nationwide to include all types of endurance events. In the years prior to advancing the program to a national platform, thousands of athletes made their miles more meaningful by raising millions to fight cancer.
“We partnered with the American Cancer Society because we’re always looking for ways to give back to our community, and we like to train people to run long distance events,” said Josh Levinson, owner of Charm City Run. “There is no way to measure the satisfaction we take in bringing someone from ground zero to the completion of a half or full marathon. For many, this is a once in a lifetime goal, one of those things to cross off their list. To play a part in this accomplishment and help the American Cancer Society at the same time is a wonderful thing to be a part of.”
Upcoming informational meetings are scheduled for:
• Thursday, May 20 at 6 PM at the American Cancer Society office (8219 Town Center Dr., Baltimore)
• Saturday, May 22 at 9 AM at Charm City Run (2045 York Rd., Timonium)
• Thursday, May 27 at 6 PM at Charm City Run (126 South Main St., Bel Air)
• Tuesday, June 1 at 7 PM at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge (636 W. Lexington St., Baltimore)
To register for DetermiNation or become a volunteer, visit acsdetermination.org/baltimore. For more information, contact Eric Heydorn at eric.heydorn@cancer.org or (410) 933-5130.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.
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