FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christa Saracco
Communications Manager
Vascular Disease Foundation
303.989.0500
Vascular Disease Foundation Seeking Runners for
The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Lakewood, CO – February 28, 2007 – The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF)
announced today that it has once again been selected as an official charity
for The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon to take place on Sunday, October
7, 2007 in downtown Chicago. VDF is seeking runners to participate with
Team VDF and help raise awareness about vascular disease. Registration for
the marathon opened on January 1 and will close when the participant
capacity of 45,000 is reached so now is the time for interested parties to
register and run for a good cause at the same time!
Over 20 million Americans are at risk for vascular diseases such as
peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic
aneurysm and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These are serious diseases that
can lead to heart attack, stroke, disability and death. With the proper
education, many of these diseases are treatable and the serious
consequences prevented, but they must be caught in time. Running for Team
VDF will help to bring awareness and education to the more than 1.2 million
spectators that will attend this year's marathon.
To become a member of Team VDF, runners pay a $35 tax deductible
registration fee and receive a team t-shirt, singlet and a goody bag. Once
they are registered with Team VDF they must commit to raising a minimum of
$150 towards vascular disease education, participants who raise more than
the minimum will be eligible for prizes such as gift cards and clothing.
Fundraising support and encouragement will be provided by VDF along the
way.
VDF is one of 85 charities that have been selected to participate in the
marathon's 2007 charity program. The marathon's Web site encourages runners
to make the experience "more meaningful by dedicating your race to a
charitable cause". Last year 5,000 runners combined to raise over $9.5
million for 60 charities at the 29th annual race.
"Last year, 24 runners were the first group ever to run for vascular
disease education and helped to raise over $14,000 towards the cause. This
year we're trying to double our efforts." said Sheryl Benjamin, executive
director, Vascular Disease Foundation. "Most Americans don't know that
vascular disease can kill or cripple almost as many people as heart disease
or cancer! It is our goal to alert as many people as we can about these
diseases so they can be educated and take preventative measures to improve
their quality of life."
There is still time to register for the marathon at www.chicagomarathon.com
and VDF is still looking for runners willing to help the organization meet
its $25,000 fundraising goal. To learn how to join Team VDF, please call
Christa Saracco 888-VDF-4INFO or visit
www.vdf.org/LaSalleBankChicagoMarathon.php.
The Vascular Disease Foundation is a national, nonprofit, public education
organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the prevention,
diagnosis, and management of vascular disease. Its outstanding board of
directors includes physicians, nurses, vascular technologists,
rehabilitation professionals, and clinical researchers who have been on the
forefront of fighting vascular diseases for many years. For more
information, visit www.vdf.org or call
888-VDF-4INFO.
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