SALT LAKE CITY, July 21, 2008 – This year’s MyoMed Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back Relay Race was bigger and better than ever, and among its many beneficiaries were children living along the race route, a 178-mile course running from Logan to Park City.
Race participants and supporters directly donated nearly $10,000 to promote youth health and fitness. Operation Kids, a locally based charity, worked with Ragnar Events to allocate the funds, which will be used by the American Heart Association to distribute educational materials in schools along the race route. The materials will focus on youth health and fitness, nutrition and overall cardiovascular health.
“Staying healthy in today’s fast-food and video game world is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s children,” said Meredith Mannheim, development director for American Heart Association. “We’re thrilled that Ragnar Events has decided to focus attention on youth health and fitness, and grateful to Operation Kids for choosing us as this year’s MyoMed Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back charity recipient. We look forward to helping children and families in communities along the race route better understand the things they need to do a guarantee a healthier life.”
Runners and their supporters also paid $7,500 for meals provided by Rocky Mountain Middle School in Heber City as a race-related fundraiser. Those funds will be used to support youth sports programs at the school.
Ragnar Events, host of the race, contributed another $2,200 to local schools along the race route to be used for school fitness programs. This year’s total donation equaled nearly $20,000.
Operation Kids has partnered with Ragnar Events since 2005. Last month, the two organizations announced an expanded relationship whereby Operation Kids will be the designated charity partner for all future races. Operation Kids will work with Ragnar Events to identify effective, impactful local benefiting charities in all of the race locations nationwide.
“Operation Kids has a reputation of being able to identify the most effective charities serving children,” said Tanner Hill, co-founder of Ragnar Events. “We are delighted to have them assist us in finding the most impactful programs for the youth in the communities in which we have races.”
Besides Utah, Ragnar Events also hosts races in Arizona, Washington, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida, and Washington D.C.
About Operation Kids
Operation Kids is a trademarked d.b.a. of the OK Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to more effective giving. We manage donations that serve the needs of the Whole Child – their education, health, safety and well-being. Founded in 1999, the mission of Operation Kids is to support a community of children’s issues through qualified and measurably effective charities and programs. The “OK Charity” designation means donors can give with confidence and expect accountability and results. 100% of all donations go directly to programs. More at www.operationkids.org.
About Ragnar Relays
Ragnar Events, LLC owns and operates the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Series, the nation’s largest series of overnight relay races. The series includes the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Wastach Back in Utah, the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Del Sol in Arizona, the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Great River in Wisconsin/Minnesota, the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage in Washington, the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Washington D.C., the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Austin and the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Florida. Ragnar Events, LLC is committed to providing each participant with an unforgettable relay adventure.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, claim more than 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
Blog: http://operationkids.wordpress.com
Change.org: http://www.change.org/nonprofits/view/95892?show_tour=true
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/operationkids