Blue Ridge Marathon donates $10,000 to
Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Money to be used for Parkway beautification and education

Roanoke, Va. (June 25, 2012) – Organizers of the recent Blue Ridge Marathon have donated $10,000 to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the annual race’s designated beneficiary.

The contribution will be used to support the organization’s mission to preserve, promote and enhance the scenic highway. The Parkway hosted a share of the 26.2-mile marathon course, dubbed the toughest in America, on April 21.

Pete Eshelman, director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership, and co-chair of the marathon, commended the National Park Service for permitting access to the scenic highway. He attributed the event’s financial success to community support and sponsors.

“National College, Carilion Clinic, Fink’s Jewelers and Foot Levelers believed in this idea and supported this great community event relatively from the beginning,” he said. “Their support enabled us to properly market the marathon as a destination attraction.” Eshelman noted that the marathon and half-marathon drew 1,092 runners, leading to a total regional economic impact of $377,000, up 11.2 percent from the year before and the most ever.

The marathon has donated a total of $42,500 for the first three marathons.

“We are grateful to be the marathon’s ongoing beneficiary and will dedicate these funds to preserve the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Friends executive director Susan Mills.

Next year’s race is scheduled for April 20, 2013. Stop by booth BR809 at Summer OR for a free entry...