Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach supports charity programs

Charity programs introduced at press conference

By now, it’s no secret that the partnership between road races and charity groups seeking to raise donations are a win-win.  Take for example, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training ® program has raised over $8.8 million (net) in eight year through its partnership with the Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon, per their 2009 Virginia Beach race media guide.   At Friday’s press conference several of the 2009 Official Charities were introduced by representatives with emotional accounts of the importance and the positive results of being involved in a charity program. 

I knew that Patty Bright was going to be speaking on behalf of CRNAs Rock! because I had actually met her on my morning run about three hours prior to the press conference.  We were running the opposite direction and I always say hello to everyone (I’m a “social” runner) and when she asked if I was going to be racing on Sunday I mentioned that I would be covering the race for Examiner.com and Washington Running Report.  Hence, we stopped and she proceeded to tell me about the work of the Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists "Running to Feed---Hungry People---People in Need" and they were encouraging runners to bring personal hygiene items to the Expo so they could distribute via the charity, People in Need (PIN), a ministry that provides food, clothing, shelter and for the homeless and poor.

With the enthusiasm of a runner who might have just qualified for nationals, Bright told me about their activities and personal accounts of a few runners whose lives had been drastically changed thanks to their involvement in the program.  The group hosts a dinner for the homeless the night before the race---but what may surprise some readers is these people turn around the next morning at the crack of dawn to work a race aid station.   

At the press conference, she introduced two people who had gotten involved in the program and would be walking and running the race on Sunday---two people who a year ago were in a different life situation but found a positive road to take thanks to this organization and support from this running community. 

FOR MORE INFO: CRNAs Rock! / Rock n Roll charities / Here's a good read, "She puts her heart into running." And find out about the MGD 64, Lucky #64, promotion.