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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Competitor Group Launch Country Music Marathon Collaboration

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced as title partner for Country Music Marathon
• St. Jude Heroes becomes official charity training program for Tennessee’s largest running event
• More than 30,000 runners expected for Nashville’s 13^th annual race on Saturday, April 28, 2012

Nashville, Tenn.  – October 7, 2011 – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases, and Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), organizers of the Country Music Marathon, today announced a new title partnership as the official benefiting charity of the Country Music Marathon. The 2012 event will be rebranded as the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan and will take place Saturday, April 28.

“The St. Jude Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is the perfect match for St Jude’s rich history with the country music industry and our St. Jude Heroes program,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  “The event is truly a marriage of fitness enthusiasts and country fans alike nationwide who want to do something meaningful in the fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.”

Among the 30,000 runners and walkers who annually participate in Nashville’s 26.2-mile block party will be members of the St. Jude Heroesteam who are Running For a Reason^®, to support and save the lives of children as they go thru some of the toughest times of their lives.

Over the past 12 years, the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon has established itself as a Nashville institution, now bringing more than 30,000 runners to a city long known for its musical genius. Runners enjoy many of Nashville’s most historic sites like the Parthenon, world-renowned Music Row and an expansive finish line festival outside the Tennessee Titan’s home, LP Field, located along the Cumberland River.

“While I believe each and every event Competitor Group organizes is spectacular, the St. Jude Country Music Marathon is my personal favorite,” said Tracy Sundlun, Senior Vice-President of CGI and a founder of the Nashville race. “We are excited to launch a new era of the marathon by partnering with St. Jude and their incredible national network of supporters and country music radio stations, which will take the promotion of this event and the City of Nashville to a whole new level, bringing many more participants and visitors to experience this great city on the last Saturday of each April.” 

Over its 12-year history, charity partners have raised more than $22.3 million through the Country Music Marathon, which has become one of the largest and most successful fundraising platforms in the state of Tennessee. 

For more information, or to register for the event, please visit Competitor.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital’s research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

About the St. Jude Country Music Marathon

A Competitor Group event, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan will celebrate its 13th annual running in the Music City. Featuring many of Nashville’s best live bands on 28 stages along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, the musically themed road race annually attracts more than 30,000 runners, walkers and junior racers. 

Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 26 and includes the ING KiDS ROCK Nashville and a post-race concert Saturday night at the Bridgestone Arena.  The Nashville Convention Center is home to the free Health & Fitness Expo which is open to the public as all race participants pick up their race number, browse through fitness related products, enjoy free samples and interactive clinics. For more information, please visit Competitor.com or follow us on Twitter @RunRocknRoll.