FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Davison
Marketing and Communications
(613) 277-2980
ING Ottawa Marathon Expands Search for Canada's Fastest City
ING Run for Something Better grows to nine cities, promotes athletic
excellence among less-fortunate youth across the nation
OTTAWA, May 3 /CNW Telbec/ - On May 28th over 5,000 marathon runners are
expected to take their marks at the start line of the ING Ottawa Marathon.
For eighteen participants, the race will take a whole new meaning. Eighteen
athletes from nine Canadian cities will compete in the ING Run for
Something Better, a race within a race to declare Canada's fastest city.
Launched two years ago, the program's main goal is to introduce
less-fortunate youth across the country to the sport of distance running.
Last year, seven cities competed for bragging rights and top funding for
local athletic programs. Toronto was declared champion when its two elite
runners offered the lowest combined time for the ING Ottawa Marathon. That
success prompted more cities to vie for the title and share $68,000 in
prize money donated by ING Insurance, through the ING Foundation, to
running programs aimed at less-fortunate youth. Runners from Halifax,
Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver and
Victoria will travel to Ottawa to compete in the May event.
Beyond bragging rights for the "fastest Canadian city", the winners - the
lowest combined time for the ING Ottawa Marathon - will take home a $10,000
ING contribution for athletic programs that involve less-fortunate youth.
However, everyone will be a winner: Even the last place team will receive
$5,000 for local programs.
"The ING Run for Something Better is the type of program that will help
develop the Olympians of tomorrow," says Manny Rodrigues, ING Ottawa
Marathon Vice President. "We are already seeing results. One of the
under-privileged youth from our inaugural program adapted very quickly to
the sport and has gone on to win at Ontario provincial championships."
The champions of the 2005 ING Run for Something Better, Nicole Stevenson
and Matt McInnes of Team Toronto, will not be competing this year due to
training and competition conflicts. Team Toronto for 2006 will include Tim
Shannon, 26, and Tania Jones, 36, the 2002 Canadian Marathon Champion.
"This will be my first ING Ottawa Marathon in four years, since taking a
break to have my son Callum," says Jones. "I am thrilled to be returning to
a race at which I have had so much success. Representing the future track
stars of Toronto in this program motivates me to train harder and race
faster."
In addition to raising money for their local youth running programs, the
runners from each city will also represent an elementary school in the
Ottawa area, running for spots for less-fortunate youth to participate in
the Ottawa Lions Track & Field programs. The athletes will visit their
schools for a pep-rally before the race and many students are expected to
line the route in support of their runners.
Those at ING who first developed the program say the expansion can only
mean good things for youth in Canada.
"Success in distance running - just like success in life - comes from a
long-term commitment and a willingness to challenge limits, values that we
share as an organization," said Debbie Coull-Cicchini, ING Canada's Chief
Operating Officer for Ontario. "Our support of distance running and the ING
Run for Something Better encourages young people to reach their full
potential and to go beyond what they think is possible."
"The foundation of this program is getting kids into sports, and for
under-privileged youth running is one of the most accessible options," says
Rodrigues. "The ING Run for Something Better provides them with 18 role
models from across Canada, both male and female, a venue that showcases how
they can use sport as a competitive outlet or as a healthy recreational
lifestyle, and most importantly, it gives them an opportunity to get
involved at no cost to them."
ING Run for Something Better Athletes:
Team Halifax: Scott Garinther Team Saskatoon: Jim Jasieniuk
Heather Goodfellow Joan McGrath
Team Toronto: Tim Shannon Team Edmonton: Yves Gagnon
Tania Jones Krissy Dooling
Team Ottawa: Rick Hellard Team Victoria: Jim Finlayson
Liz Maguire Nancy Baxendale
Team Montreal: Louis-Phillipe Garnier Team Vancouver: Simon Driver
Tina Kader Katrina Driver
Team Quebec City: Jean Gauthier
Céline Boilard
ABOUT ING CANADA AND ING INSURANCE
ING Canada (TSX : IIC.LV) is the largest provider of property and
casualty insurance in Canada. ING Canada's principal insurance products are
automobile, property and liability insurance, which it provides to
individuals and businesses through ING Insurance and other insurance
subsidiaries across Canada.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND
The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada's premier running festival, combines
competition, participation and fundraising to make a distinctive
contribution to the health of the community. The Ottawa Race Weekend has
over 28,000 participants in nine races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon.
It is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. This year, the Ottawa Race
Weekend is scheduled for May 26-28.
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