The American Red Cross in Greater New York Supports the 41st ING New York City Marathon

Greater New York Chapter Assists New York Road Runners Medical Professionals with Team of First Aid and CPR Trained Volunteers as Team Red Cross Looks to Cross the Finish Line

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Proudly sporting the Red Cross logo across the backs of their white tee shirts, 46 Team Red Cross runners from the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) will run in the preeminent ING New York City Marathon on November 7. Each of the runners has pledged to raise or donate at least $3,500 to support the Chapter's vital work--helping New Yorkers prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. To date, Team Red Cross has raised $115,000, and is expected to finish at $200,000.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101105/DC95998LOGO)

This year's Team Red Cross will be led by Board Member Patrick Durkin.  "The Red Cross goes the distance every day to help our fellow New Yorkers, and this is our opportunity to go the distance for this amazing organization by raising much-needed funds to support the great things they do for our community," says Patrick Durkin.  The team includes 10 runners with local competitive status who will be among the first group of runners assembled near the starting line.  Along with Patrick Durkin, included in this group is Greater NY Red Cross Tiffany Circle Member Mary Pang and Greater NY Board member Kelley Millet.

While Team Red Cross is covering the 26-mile course through all five New York City boroughs, over 150 Red Cross volunteers will support the New York Road Runners (NYRR) "safety" team. Approximately 120 of these first-aid and CPR trained workers, donning Red Cross caps and NYRR vests, will be "spotters" who support the activities of NYRR's medical professionals along the marathon route. Additionally, more than 35 certified medical professionals, a combination of Red Cross volunteers and employees under the authority of ING New York City Marathon Medical Director Stuart B. Weiss, will supplement the NYRR medical teams' care delivery by locating and triaging runners in possible need of medical attention before reaching a medical tent. The NY Red Cross will also have a seat in the Joint Operation Center, the central medical command post for the race overseen by Dr. Weiss. "It's gratifying to see that our trained volunteers, including our team of licensed medical professionals, will be there to support the medical services of NYRR and the safety of the runners in this world-class event," said Greater NY Red Cross CEO Vikki Pryor.

About The American Red Cross in Greater New York

The American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) is a key humanitarian partner and a vital participant in New York's plans and programs to help over nine million people in New York City and Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Sullivan counties prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Chapter responds to an average of 7 emergencies a day--fires, floods, building collapses--and provides immediate humanitarian aid to approximately 12,000 people affected by these disasters each year. Additionally, the Chapter helps New York residents and businesses prepare for emergencies by offering hundreds of lifesaving courses and emergency preparedness training programs and resources.

The American Red Cross in Greater New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, not a government agency, and relies on donations to fund its free humanitarian services. For more information about how you can help, call 1-877-RED CROSS (1-877-733-2767), or visit www.nyredcross.org. You can also follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/redcrossny.

New York Road Runners

Headquartered in New York City, New York Road Runners is dedicated to advancing the sport of running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and meeting our community's needs. Our goal is to use the expertise acquired in our 52-year history to empower all people to live fitter, healthier lives through participation in our races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs. Our races and other events draw more than 300,000 people each year. The ING New York City Marathon, NYRR's premier event, is the largest and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting the world's top professional runners every year and raising nearly $25 million for charity in 2009. NYRR's running-based youth programs, which currently serve more than 100,000 children in hundreds of schools and community centers, promote children's health and fitness, character development, and personal achievement in underserved communities. For more information, visit www.nyrr.org.

The ING New York City Marathon

The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing nearly 105,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $600,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and a worldwide broadcast reach of 330 million. As any one of the more than 830,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information, visit www.ingnycmarathon.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross in Greater New York