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The Woodlands Marathon Charity Challenge kicks off Monday, Oct. 13

By: Jon Walk
| Published 09/11/2014

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas – On the strength of over $161,000 being raised and donated from its 2014 event, The Woodlands Marathon Management aims to see more than 250 runners participating and raising over $250,000 for charities and non-profit organizations in 2015 through its Charity Challenge.

“It was a primary goal of ours when we revitalized The Woodlands Marathon in 2012 to support charities and the local community,” said director Danny Golden.

On Monday, October 13, 2014, The Woodlands Marathon Management (TWMM) will host the 4th annual Charity Challenge Kickoff Party, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Goose’s Acre Bistro and Irish Pub, located at 21 Waterway Ave. along The Woodlands Waterway.

Highlight charities, including the Montgomery County Women’s Center – selected by The Woodlands Marathon Management – and those chosen by the event’s title sponsor partners, will soon be announced and introduced at the Charity Challenge Kickoff Party.

Attendees can both run the weekly Goose’s Acre social run along the waterway while meeting participating charities in the coming year’s Charity Challenge.

Two years ago, The Woodlands Marathon Management introduced a new format which allows runners to compete for an $18,000 donation prize purse while running for any of the event’s highlighted charities -- including those selected by race sponsors -- or their favorite charity of choice.

“On behalf of The Woodlands Marathon Management, we are really excited each year to be able to offer this prize purse and watch the runners challenge themselves by supporting great causes,” said race director Willie Fowlkes. “Each year we want to do more while highlighting these runners and the organizations they represent. We have barely scratched the surface on the impact this program can have for these causes.”

For the third year in a row, event management is partnering with Reason2Race, which helps runners reach their personal fundraising goals by setting up their own fundraising pages, to spearhead the charity initiative.

By selecting and raising money for a charity, runners will have the opportunity for their charity to receive one of 43 dedicated donations – ranging in amounts from $100 to the top prize of $3,000 – that comprise the $18,000 prize purse.

Bellaire’s Diane McGehee, who repeated last year as the top fundraiser, earned the additional $3,000 for her charity, Together in Hope, after raising $37,476 on their behalf.

The Woodlands Marathon Management – 14 Snowbird Pl – The Woodlands, Texas 77381 Last year’s $161,000 total, which included the prize purse, brought the two- year total of the program to $277,000.

Event organizers, upon bringing The Woodlands Marathon back after a 17-year hiatus, originally earmarked $40,000 for charity and exceeded the expectations by giving more than $58,000 in donations to various charities, volunteer organizations and local community groups.

The new program format, however, gave runners a way to partner with the event team to further extend their mutual ability and commitment to raise awareness and funds for multiple causes.

Monies were donated to 24 different causes a year ago – an increase from the 14 local and global charities that benefitted in 2013 from more than $116,000 in giving.

For more information about the Charity Challenge, please visit thewoodlandsmarathon.com and click on Charity Challenge.

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