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Press Release – RUN4HOPE Charity Program enable charities to raise money for social good

Vancouver, BC – December 7, 2013

Choose your Distance, Choose your Cause: RUN4HOPE Charity program strives to enable charities to raise $1 million for social good

Vancouver, BC – December 7 2013 – Featuring a total of 25 RUN4HOPE charities, BMO Vancouver Marathon participants can choose to fundraise for or donate to a wide variety of organizations dealing with causes such as hunger, housing and poverty health research and the protection of endangered species. Runners are invited to choose from a vast selection of local and national causes for the 2014 event.

Having raised approximately $13 million with its charity partners over the last 12 years, the Vancouver International Marathon Society, the non-profit organization in charge of the BMO Vancouver Marathon, is striving to enable charities to raise $1 million for social good in 2014. This coming year, the program consists of three different charity levels including National, Official and Community charities.

The RUN4HOPE program’s National charities are the Down Syndrome Research Foundation, Ronald McDonald House BC, Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver, and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and Team In Training, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as an international charity.

Official charities consist of Team Finn, Team Diabetes, Josh Platzer Society for Teen Suicide Prevention & Awareness, KidSafe Project Society, San Diego Global Wildlife Conservancy, Team World Vision, Canadian Cancer Society, Team Fox – Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The Community charities that runners can donate to are BC Epilepsy Society, ‘NSTEP to Prevent Childhood Obesity, Boys and Girls Club of South Coast BC, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation, BC SPCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation BC & Yukon, Quest Food Exchange, the Arthritis Society, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch.

Deb Hymers, Founder and Director of ‘NSTEP (Nutrition Students Teachers Exercising with Parents) to Prevent Childhood Obesity said, “It is indeed an honor and privilege for ‘NSTEP to be one of 10 community charities in the program. The goals and values of encouraging families to run with children and youth are the way to make the habit of activity for life”

Michael Anhorn, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) said, “Being part of the RUN4HOPE program allows CMHA to build awareness of mental health, reduce stigma related to mental illness and raise money to support our work to promote good mental health for all.”

For those participants interested in international charities, Mark Stuart, President of the Foundation for San Diego Zoo Global said, “The San Diego Zoo Global has been a leader in wildlife conservation and preservation for almost a century. Marathon participants who designate their race contributions to our Wildlife Conservancy will immediately benefit conservation efforts with species like the California condor, giant panda, Caribbean iguana and polar bear.” “We are thrilled to welcome back our amazing charities that were a part of the RUN4HOPE program in 2013 and we look forward to working with the new charities that have come on board this year” says Charlene Krepiakevich, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Marathon Society, the non-profit organization in charge of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. “The program gives runners the choice to run or donate for a cause that is meaningful to them. It is our goal to give back to the community and provide runners with this unique experience”.

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