The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has announced that it will become the first charity to partner with Reebok Spartan Race, the ‘world’s leading obstacle racing company’. The charity is taking on the Premier Charity role at two of the most popular races in the Reebok Spartan Stadium series: Citi Field Spartan Sprint on 9 May 2015 and Fenway Spartan Sprint on 7 November 2015.
These challenging races, which include more than 15 obstacles over a 3-mile course inside two of the most iconic ball parks in America, are among the most popular in Spartan’s more than 240 events worldwide. As an official charity partner of the 2015 events, MMRF will field a team of up to 250 athletes for each of the two stadium races.
This initiative will aim to offer a powerful experience that combines taking on a ‘bucket list’ race, while raising funds to find a cure for cancer. Athletes of all abilities will take part, while more competitive participants will compete for individual and team perpetual cup trophies and bragging rights.
“We are thrilled to partner with Reebok Spartan Race, one of the most iconic and highly regarded sports brands in the world,” said Alicia O’Neill, MMRF Director of Endurance Events.
“The Spartan brand and the MMRF align perfectly. Like the MMRF, Spartan athletes set audacious goals, then work relentlessly toward reaching them, overcoming whatever obstacles are in their way to get to the finish line.”
According to the charity, the MMRF-Spartan partnership ‘further establishes the bold leadership position of the MMRF in the category of premier endurance sporting events.’ The foundation’s Endurance Events program has a significant presence in more than 20 world class events including the TCS New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, the Five Boro Bike Tour and IRONMAN Lake Placid.
In 2014, the MMRF Endurance Events program raised over US$3.4 million. A significant 90% of the funds raised are budgeted for cancer research.
“We are honoured to partner with the MMRF, a game changing cancer research organization,” said Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of the Reebok Spartan Race series. “Just as Spartan has redefined ‘fit’, the MMRF has redefined the way cancer research is being conducted. Both of our organizations share an unstoppable and unbreakable spirit, making this a great partnership.”
The MMRF charity entries for the 2015 Spartan Citi Field and Fenway events will be packaged with special amenities, designed to attract athletes that are looking for a premier experience and want to ‘put more meaning into their training and racing.’
The MMRF Team for Cures Spartan VIP experience will include a primetime group wave at 13:00 on race day, a corporate team challenge, VIP parking and transportation to and from NYC, (for Citi Field event) special spectator viewing areas, and an exclusive post-race victory celebration in the skybox overlooking the ballpark.
A key feature of the MMRF Team for Cures VIP experience will be a corporate race-within-the-race. Corporate teams from financial services, pharmaceutical and other industries will compete for bragging rights and trophies in categories including fastest team, largest team and team with most funds raised. Awards will also be given to friends & family teams as well as to individuals.
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. The five-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma is approximately 41%, one of the lowest of all cancers. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy’s diagnosis with multiple myeloma.
The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the world’s number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised over US$275 million since its inception and directs 90% of total budget to research and related programming.
As a result, the MMRF has been awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted four four-star rating for 10 consecutive years, the ‘highest designation for outstanding fiscal responsibility and exceptional efficiency.’
www.themmrf.org/enduranceevents
www.spartan.com
