2008 Ed Erichson Races courtesy Bob Kopac
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The Marathon Project can use your help!

Greetings, fellow runners and members of the Mid Hudson Road Runner Club:

The Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County, Inc (CAPE), would like to welcome you to take part in a new, innovative program called: The Marathon Project-Empowering Youth Through Running. This distance running program will (at first) focus on at-risk youth within the Poughkeepsie and Beacon City Schools as well as youth within the Dutchess County Department of Probation.

The Marathon Project is far more than just an athletic program. This is an after school training program that will provide opportunities for students to set and achieve goals, explore avenues for character development, improve heath and build positive student adult relationships through mentoring. Participants within this program will also take part in some MHRRC races while they are “in training”. The MHRRC races will be a wonderful developmental asset for youth to connect with our community.  The final goal for students involved in the project will be running in the Philadelphia ½ or Full Marathon in November 2007.

The Marathon Project is modeled after SRLA, (“Student’s Run LA”). SRLA is an after-school program that has trained over 26,000 at risk teens to run the LA Marathon. The key findings of the program are amazing.

  • 97% of the students running the marathon finish the race.
  • 90% of the seniors who complete the marathon graduate from high school.
  • 85% go on to a higher education.

Link for more information about SRLA.

The Marathon Project anticipates a similar success. But, we can not succeed without your help and support.

We are currently looking for:

  • (lightly) Used running apparel and shoes for some of the youth in the program.
  • Financial support to run the program successfully. Link to attached donation form for more details. Your financial donation will help cover the cost of entrance fees, incentives, new running shoes and bussing to the Philadelphia Marathon. (Remember all donations are tax deductible). Your contribution assists to better the lives of children in our county through (the amazing sport we all love) running, while giving our youth opportunities and experiences they can carry with them throughout their lifetime.

If you are interested in financially supporting and learning more about The Marathon Project please call:

(845) 471-0194 or email me. soneil@capedc.org.

Thank you, MHRRC Members for all your help and support.

Happy Running.

Susanne O’Neil
CAPE/DC The Marathon Project, Coordinator