FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Winitz
Media Coordinator
Win-It!z Sports Public Relations
(650) 948-0618
Peter Nantell
Event Producer
West End Management
(415) 284-9653
San Francisco Marathon Supports Iraq War Victim's Family Cause
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (June 1, 2005) - The San Francisco Marathon
presented by Runner's World recently added the Robert P. Warns II
Memorial Trust to the charity beneficiaries which benefit from the race's
Cause to Run program. Robert "Bobby" Warns II of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a
corporal in the U.S. Marines, was killed last November 8 when his vehicle
struck a landmine in Iraq. Two other Marines in the vehicle also died,
and two more were wounded. All charitable gifts to the Robert P. Warns II
Memorial Trust go towards the support of Warns' infant daughter who was
born after the 23-year-old soldier's death.
The San Francisco Marathon's unique Cause to Run program allows race
participants to conveniently contribute to over twenty charities
including the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust. Since Cause to Run was
started by the marathon two years ago, the program has raised $250,000
for about 50 charity organizations.
Complete information about the San Francisco Marathon presented by
Runner's World, including Cause to Run, plus online registration, is
available at www.runsfm.com. The marathon will take place on Sunday, July
31, 2005.
Contributions to the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust can also be made
directly through the trust's web site at www.bobbywarns.com, or by
purchasing running gear at www.runningwell.org. RunningWell donates 50
percent of all proceeds to the trust or another designated charity of the
purchaser's choice.
Bobby Warns' unit had arrived in Iraq less than two months before he died
on a patrol mission. On the same day as his death, Erin Nielsen, his
longtime girlfriend, received a letter. It was from Warns. He wrote
telling Nielsen that he liked the name, Payton, that she had chosen for
their expected child if the baby was a girl. The couple planned to marry
after the Marine reservist's military service was finished. Warns' and
Nielsen's child, a girl, was born on May 5, 2005. Her full name is Payton
Elizabeth Robert Warns, and she is the Warns family's first grandchild.
Warns met Nielsen, 24, while both were attending the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The single mother is now pursuing a teaching
certificate in architecture. The newborn has relieved some of the grief
that Erin Nielsen, Warns' family, and friends experienced after their
loss. Bobby's parents, Robert and Bridget Warns, established the memorial
trust to raise funds for Payton's future.
Both of Bobby's parents, his sister Katie, and three other family members
will join an expected 14,000 to 15,000 participants at this year's San
Francisco Marathon, half marathon, and 5K Run/Walk. They will run and
walk as "Team Bobby Warns" in the half marathon event in honor of Bobby,
who ran track, wrestled, and played tennis in high school. All but one of
the Warns team are veterans of at least two marathons. Bobby's dad has
run seven full marathons over a 25-year span, with a 3:08 personal best.
"As soon as I heard that the race is running over the Golden Gate Bridge,
I was in. I used it to convince the others," said the senior Robert
Warns, 52, whose first San Francisco race experience will, no doubt, be
his most poignant and memorable. "I wouldn't do it alone."
Warns and family will probably have more company over the 13.1-mile half
marathon distance than they anticipate.
Said Peter Nantell, the marathon's producer: "Our hearts will certainly
be with the Warns family and Erin on marathon weekend. We hope all our
participants will take a moment to honor Bobby Warns and all the
dedicated U.S. soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq."
According to a study completed by USA Track & Field last year, road
runners and walkers raised $560 million for charity causes in 2003 alone.
"For years, charity running has been a major economic force in this
country," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "Even more encouraging is charity
running continues to grow, as Americans continue to promote fitness,
wellness, and giving to have a positive effect on American society."
The San Francisco Marathon's Cause to Run program is particularly popular
among runners. When entrants in the marathon, half marathon, or 5K
Run/Walk register, they can choose one of the marathon's 2005 non-profit
beneficiaries to which a portion of their entry fee is automatically
donated. Entrants also have an option to raise even more funds for their
cause by collecting pledges from their friends, family, and
acquaintances. Additionally, runners can specify a charity of their
choice as a beneficiary.
The marathon's designated 2005 Cause to Run beneficiaries are: Children's
Cardiomyopathy Foundation, Save the Bay, STOP AIDS Project, American
Liver Foundation, Team Parkinson, Greenbelt Alliance, Options Recovery
Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Homeless Prenatal Program, National
Brain Tumor Foundation, San Francisco SPCA, Organs 'R Us, A Home Away
from Homeless, Family Builders by Adoption, Spinal Cord Injury
Association of Illinois, War Child, Project Open Hand, ALS Association
(Greater Bay Area Chapter), California Community Partners for Youth, 826
Valencia, The ABS-CBN Foundation, Bay Kids, St. John's Educational
Threshold Center, and the Robert P. Warns II Memorial Trust.
REGISTRATION DETAILS: The San Francisco Marathon presented by Runners
World and its companion events (half marathon, 5K Run/Walk) will take
place on Sunday, July 31, 2005. On-line registration is available via the
marathon's web site at www.runsfm.com. An entry form for mail-in
registration is also available on the web site. The entry deadline for
on-line registration is July 29; for mail-in registration the deadline is
July 16. For additional information, call the race hotline at (415)
284-9653, Email: .
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