FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karla Goldstein
(314) 406-4287
FROM THE BANKS OF THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI
TO THE SAND DUNES OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend and DRS
Technologies, Inc. Partner to Host Half Marathon at Kuwait Army Base
ST. LOUIS, MO—Nancy Lieberman, president, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon &
Family Fitness Weekend and Karen Bedell Vice President/ General Manager,
DRS Technologies, Inc. today announced plans to host the "Spirit of St.
Louis Half Marathon in Kuwait" at Camp Arifjan Army Base on April 20, 2007
at the James S. McDonnell USO at Lambert Airport.
The event is the result of a request made by second year Seminarian, U.S.
Navy Lt. Erik Neider who had registered to compete in the St. Louis
Marathon on April 15, 2007. Late last year, while traveling with his family
on vacation, he learned he was going to be deployed to Kuwait with Naval
Operational Support Center (NOSC) St. Louis, and other NOSC from around the
country.
Unwilling to give up on his goal of running a marathon, Neider contacted
the St. Louis Marathon with the hope that they would consider putting on an
event in Kuwait. After significant communication with US personnel in
Kuwait and the support from DRS Technologies, Inc., the "Spirit of St.
Louis Half Marathon in KUWAIT" will become a reality.
The Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend has shipped 1100
t-shirts, medals, race bibs to the base along with awards, banners and
finish line tape.
The base includes several branches of the Armed Services: Army – 70%; Navy
– 15%; Air Force – 10% and Marines – 5%. Personnel working in Kuwait
believe they will have more than 1,000 participants.
"We are excited to partner with DRS Technologies to support our troops by
hosting a half marathon at Camp Arifjan. Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon
is the 18th largest half marathon in the U.S. and after April 20, it will
be the largest event in Kuwait. Our mission is to promote health and
wellness as well as to encourage people to realize their fitness goals.
When this opportunity presented itself, our staff and board members
actively pursued it," said Lieberman.
Neider who was studying to become a Lutheran Minister at Concordia Seminary
before being deployed is thrilled with the response, "I want to work for
the greatest benefit of running in St. Louis and my troops," he said.
In Kuwait, Department of Defense Contractors Jerry Cataldo will serve as
Sports Supervisor and Race Director and John Pearson, Combat Support
Associates, Marketing and Media Branch Manager Major April Olsen, Public
Affairs Officer will help coordinate the event.
Also participating in today's announcement were Ginny Compton, Executive
Director, James S. McDonnell USO Lambert Airport, Mrs. Joelle Neider and
her two sons, Karen Bedell, DRS Technologies, Inc, and Lt. Col. Susan
Schlacter, 375th Mission Support Squadron Commander Scott AFB.
Now in its seventh year, the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness
Weekend (www.stlouismarathon.com) is scheduled for April 14 – 15, 2007.
Missouri's premier family fitness event will feature seven events designed
to encourage people of all ages and athletic abilities to engage in
different running and walking-related fitness activities. Registration
forms and more information are available at www.stlouismarathon.com or by
calling (314) 727-0800. Spirit of Saint Louis Marathon & Family Fitness
Weekend, a non profit organization, was founded in 1999 with a mission to
encourage people of all ages and athletic abilities to engage in fitness
activities.
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