The new partnership makes the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon an official city supported event. The partnership entails city assistance in awareness and promotion of the weekend event to its constituents and event access to city assistance as required.
"The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon attracts tens of thousands of people each year to come enjoy all of what Cleveland has to offer and tour its best and brightest locations," said Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. "We are pleased to help further efforts to grow this international event in the City of Cleveland."
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, began in 1978, is now in its 33rd year. The 2009 marathon generated more than $12 million in economic impact for the City of Cleveland and set a new record for runner participation, with 12,400 registrants. Last year's race saw a 140 percent increase in runners since 2003 and marked the seventh consecutive year of growth. Currently in 2010, registrations are up 56 percent from this time last year, and race directors are expecting between 14 and 15,000 participants on May 15 and 16.
"Receiving the endorsement of the city means a lot to the marathon," said Executive Race Director Jack Staph. "This race was created to in an effort to bring a positive and meaningful fitness event to the City of Cleveland. It's grown into a source of pride for city residents, a fundraising mechanism for non-profit organizations and a catalyst for physical fitness in our community."
The city and the marathon have been working in partnership for the last five years on the We Run This City Youth Marathon Program, which is also in conjunction with the Cleveland area YMCA, Cleveland Public Health and Cleveland City Schools. The program provides a running curriculum for city students who run 25 miles from March to May in their neighborhoods and then run the last 1.2 miles of their "full marathon" on race day, where they finish along with the runners at the official finish line. The 2010 program has over 400 middle school and high school students signed up to participate.
"There has been a lot of momentum and excitement building for the marathon within the city in the last few years, and Councilman Joe Cimperman has been instrumental in helping us harness this excitement and turn it into action items," said Staph. "With Councilman Cimperman's influence, we have been able to gain the support of prominent Cleveland organizations like Positively Cleveland, The Downtown Cleveland Alliance and the Cleveland Neighborhood Development Coalition, along with the city."
Councilman Joe Cimperman represents Cleveland's 3rd Ward and has served in that position since 1997. He is also the newly elected chair of the Health & Human Services Committee. "I focus my efforts on the revitalization and health of our community," said Cimperman. "The Cleveland Marathon consistently brings positive attention to our city and is worthy of the city's full support."
City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life in the City of Cleveland by strengthening our neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing the diversity of our citizens, and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, raise a family, shop, study, play and grow old. More information on the city is available at: www.city.cleveland.oh.us
The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon offers the following opportunities for people to participate in the event: full marathon, half-marathon, 10K, full marathon walking division, half-marathon walking division, 10K walking division, a new 5K (run or walk), Kids' Run and 10K Corporate Team Challenge. The events take place May 15 and 16, 2010.
To register for any of the events, or learn more about the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, visit: ClevelandMarathon.com.
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