FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Keenan,
Executive Director
Laura Wright,
Public Relations Director
(218) 727-0947
Grandma's Marathon Announces Ron Daws Ambassador Award Winner
Duluth, MN: Ed Hermel, a resident of Cohasset, Minn., may not look like
runner. In fact, he often introduces himself as a “Fat Finn from the
North”. Don’t let Hermel’s size fool you though. The “Fat Finn” has
completed a total of 29 marathons and 18 half marathons, and has become an
ambassador for Grandma's Marathon along the way. In honor of his support of
the race, the staff and board of Grandma's Marathon are pleased to
recognize him with the 2005 Ron Daws Ambassador Award. The award will be
presented at the Grandma’s Marathon Award Ceremony on June 18, 2005 under
the Big Top Tent in Canal Park at 3:00 p.m.
Hermel began running in 1985 as a result of a bet that his entire softball
team waged against him that he couldn’t finish Grandma's Marathon. Not one
to let a challenge go, Hermel took the team up on the bet with one
condition: All of the money that was being bet against him must be donated
to the American Cancer Society in memory of his wife who had passed away in
1981 from brain cancer.
Hermel finished that first marathon, and has been running ever since. He
now travels the nation to compete in races, raise money and as he says,
“help beat cancer little by little”. During most races, he runs with a
person who is suffering from cancer, and wears a t-shirt that lists the
names of cancer fighters and survivors, which Ed has dubbed “The Fat Finn,
Boar Pig Cancer Fighting Racing Team.” To date, he has raised thousands of
dollars for the American Cancer Society and Leukemia Society.
“Ed’s giving spirit is truly remarkable,” says Scott Keenan, executive
director of Grandma's Marathon. “He is one of our greatest word-of-mouth
promoters, and we are very thankful for that. It is an honor to recognize
Ed with the Ron Daws Ambassador Award for the contributions he has made to
society, to the running community and to Grandma's Marathon.”
The award is named after Minnesota native and Olympic running legend, Ron
Daws, in recognition of his dedication to Grandma's Marathon and the sport
of long distance running.
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