NYC Marathon – Fresh Air Fund
The ING NYC Marathon is on November 7, just 37 days away.
Will you be in Staten Island that morning, ready to run? If you’re not registered, but want an opportunity to run the race and help raise money for kids from disadvantaged communities, read on.
I was recently contacted by the Fresh Air Fund, a New York City based non-profit. Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has been helping low-income New York City kids get out of the City and experience the country with host families around North America or at a camp in upstate New York.
The Fresh Air Fund has a NYC marathon team and they currently have two spots still available for 2010. If you want one of them, it’s gonna cost some money and/or take a little effort, but all you have to do is pledge to raise (or pay) $2,500. I recognize that $2,500 is no small feat, but (I think) you have the full 37 days to raise the money and with a few badgering emails to friends and family, I bet you can get at least a good chunk of the way there pretty quickly. And this way you avoid the lottery or any qualification requirements. You do still have to pay the registration fee and any travel or lodging expenses. But remember, you get to run one of the greatest marathons in the world!
If you’re interested in helping Fresh Air Fund and getting a chance to run the Marathon on November 7 or just finding out more information, please contact Fresh Air Fund directly: you can email kbrinkerhoff@freshair.org or call at (212) 897-8890. Click here for some more basic information.
- Defending champion Meb Keflezighi (USA!)
- World record-holder Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
- World Championships Half-Marathon bronze medalist and 2008 Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
- 2009 World Championships Marathon gold medalist Abel Kirui (Kenya)
- Four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (Kenya)
- Two-time NYC runner-up Abderrahim Goumri (Morocco)
- Two time NYC winners Martin Lel (Kenyan) and Marilson Gomes dos Santos (Brazil)
- Defending women’s champion and Olympic gold medalist Derartu Tulu (Ethopia)
- 2000 NYC winner and 2009 women’s runner up Ludmila Petrova (Russia)
- American Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan in her marathon debut
- Reigning World Half-Marathon Champion Mary Keitany (Kenya)
Click here to read my race report from the 2006 NYC Marathon (my BQ!)
(That’s me in the blue shirt and white visor.)