Over 1,200 Runners Combine to Make Team World Vision the Largest Charity Team at the Chicago Marathon

Team hopes to raise $1 million for clean water in Kenya and support to AIDS patients through home-based care in Africa

October 7, 2009

WHO: Team World Vision will be running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11. Team World Vision has over 1,200 members participating in this event, making it the largest charity team in the race. Unlike other charity teams, Team World Vision has seen an increase in participants and fundraising. They began in 2005 with only 95 runners in the Chicago Marathon, now there are over 1,200, each with their own unique story.

- Participant Tim Hoekstra plans to run 50 miles to raise $50,000 in celebration of his 50th Birthday. He will run 23.8 miles to the start of the Chicago Marathon and will join Team World Vision athletes for 26.2 marathon miles.

- A team from Iowa, with over 80 participants ages 16 – 61, will run to raise funds for clean water in Kenya, Africa. They have already raised $24,000.

- Julie Mleczko, a stay-at-home Mother who has suffered from depression, is running the marathon for her children. “I run to show my kids I’m more than just a “mom.” With every mile I conquer I show myself I can do it and, therefore, so can they,” she said.

WHAT: Team World Vision members will run 26.2 miles in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at Grant Park. They will be running in orange in support of World Vision.

WHY: In countries across Africa, access to basic recourses like clean water and medical care can be scarce. Team World Vision gives people the opportunity to help by empowering them to run a race and raise funds for communities in need.

HOW: Each runner has designed a personal fund-raising web page describing their commitment to helping children through Team World Vision. Team World Vision has a $1 million goal to help communities in Africa. Runners are also raising funds through the Bank of America footprints for charity program. Every runner has the opportunity to design a footprint. Bank of America will then donate $1 per footprint to their charity – up to $50,000.

WHEN: Sunday, October 11, Race start at 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: Grant Park Chicago
Chicago Bank of America Marathon
337 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601

LOCAL CONTACT: Interviews are available with Michael Chitwood, Team World Vision’s National Director, and individual team members. To coordinate interviews, please contact Gardi Wilks, 708-434-5006, gardi@wilkspr.com, or Lauren Schmunk, lschmunk@worldvision.org at 860-558-5233.

Background
Team World Vision empowers you to help change lives around the world. Dedicate your race to raising awareness and funds for some of the world’s most vulnerable children. For more information, visit www.teamworldvision.org.

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. We serve the world’s poor — regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.