MEDIA ADVISORY: Nationwide Childrens Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon Training Begins with RunFest July 7th

July 6, 2012

WHAT:
The Third Annual FREE RunFest event to kick off the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon training season; announcement of entire field of the 26 “Patient Champions” who will represent each mile on the Marathon’s route

WHEN:
Saturday, July 7, 2012
1 – 4 p.m.
*suggested arrival time at 2 p.m. to capture announcement of entire field of Patient Champions

WHERE:
Landmark Aviation, 4130 E. Fifth Ave., Columbus, OH 43219

BACKGROUND:
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon is one of the largest marathon and ½ marathon events in the United States and the largest marathon in Ohio. RunFest is a celebration bringing together runners and walkers, supporters, enthusiasts and novices – to remind them to kick their training into high gear, and to commemorate the new partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital. 

The first 1,000 attendees will enjoy free food from their choice of several Columbus food trucks: Sweet Carrots, Pitabilities, Green Meanie, OH! Burgers, Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Additionally, attendees can visit health and fitness related booths; get free Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon swag; enjoy live entertainment; and have the chance to win incredible prizes.

The full lineup of Patient Champions, Nationwide Children’s Hospital patients who will serve as fundraising ambassadors at each mile marker, will be announced by the Marathon and Nationwide Children’s. Nearly 20 of the 26 Patient Champions and their families will be in attendance at the event. A formal program to announce the field will begin promptly at 2:15 p.m.

OTHER:
The 33rd Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 and will have the capacity of 7,000 full Marathoners and 11,000 1/2 Marathoners. For more information and to register visit: www.columbusmarathon.com.

For more information, contact:
Sarah Irvin Clark, 614.296.4057 (cell)
Mary Ellen Peacock, 614.937.7316 (cell)

About Nationwide Children's Hospital

Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.