Houston Marathon Sets New Fundraising Record

HOUSTON — The Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason charity program has raised a record $2,086,000 to benefit 52 charities. With more than 16,000 donations, the 2010-11 season marks the second consecutive year the Run for a Reason program has set a new fundraising record, generating more than $12.4 million in the program’s 17-year history.

Race participants and donors raised $1.7 million prior to race day, January 30, 2011, of the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and El Paso Corporation 5K (EP5K), nearly reaching the program’s previous record total of $1.8 million set in 2010.

“The growth and success of our Run for a Reason program is attributed to the dedicated runners and fundraisers who continue to do extraordinary things for charity and our community,” said Wade Morehead, executive director of the Houston Marathon Committee. “It is important to our organization to give back, and we are honored that we can help these charities use our event as an avenue to raise money, especially during these challenging economic times when funds are needed more than ever.”

The Run for a Reason program links runners with participating nonprofits and provides a platform for charities to raise awareness and funds as well as educate others about their cause. The program also offers alternative ways to enter the marathon and half-marathon races through “Heroes” charity registration and “fundraise for registration” options.

Details about these charity registrations can be found at: RunforaReasonHouston.org More than 25,000 runners participated in the 39th annual Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, EP5K and Texas Children’s Hospital Kids’ Fun Run this past January. Official 2011-12 Run for a Reason charities will be announced on May 2, 2011.

The 40th anniversary running of the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and EP5K is scheduled for January 15, 2012. Registration for the marathon and half-marathon races opens on June 1, 2011 at chevronhoustonmarathon.com. Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half-marathon, 5K and kids’ fun run. In 2010, more than 30,000 runners participated in four race weekend events organized by 7,500 volunteers, creating Houston’s largest single-day sporting event.

In addition to hosting numerous world-renowned road races, including the USA Men’s and Women’s Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and 2007 respectively, and the 1992 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, HMC will host the 2012 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic Team Trials – Marathon on January 14, 2012.