Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Race Series 10th Anniversary Features Record Number Of Cities And First-Ever International Race

CHICAGO, July 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Runners who love chocolate and charity will mark the 10^th anniversary of RAM Racing's popular Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Race Series in a record 19 cities and with a goal of raising $1 million annually for a new charity partner according to Steve Ginsburg, RAM's CEO. 

"What started out as one single race ten years ago in Chicago has become such a welcomed community celebration of running, chocolate and charity that cities keep joining the fun," said Ginsburg. "Not only are we staging the event in a record number of cities this year, we are also going international with a proposed stop in Mexico City."

Ginsburg noted that RAM's flagship series has posted year-over-year registration growth nine straight times despite the fact that the running industry announced a third consecutive year of decreased participation. Since its inception, over one million runners have run a Hot Chocolate event.

"We put our runners first," boasted Patrick McInerney, RAM's Marketing Director, "and they acknowledge that engagement by coming back - and bringing friends and family with them. From our award-winning swag bags to our industry leading production, technology and free instant photo sharing programs, we offer an unmatched race experience. That explains our continued growth."

RAM also announced a new long-term relationship with Make-A-Wish which has been changing people's lives for 37 years.  "The running community is notoriously generous and after helping us contribute over a million dollars to non-profits over our first decade, we decided to share their largesse with another worthy organization as we launch into our next decade," added Ginsburg.

David Williams, Make-A-Wish America president and CEO, remarked that "we are honored to work with The Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Series and benefit from the generosity of their dedicated running community. Their enthusiastic large-scale support makes it possible to grant more life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses."

Runners can show their magnanimity through voluntary donations upon sign-up for Hot Chocolate Races, by seeking sponsorship pledges for their runs or through special race-day activations that will be announced soon.

The Hot Chocolate series originated with a single Hot Chocolate Race in Chicago in 2007. RAM expanded the Hot Chocolate concept to four cities in 2012 and has been adding races by popular demand ever since. The 2016 Chicago Hot Chocolate 5K was the largest 5K race in the United States for the fourth year in a row. The Hot Chocolate Series 15K races accounted for fifteen of the largest 25 events at that distance last year.  

Here is the schedule for 2017/2018:

SOURCE RAM Racing