Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water Returns to the ING New York City Marathon with Pro Marathoner Josh Cox in Support of Children's Charity

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water is a proud sponsor of the renowned 2012 ING New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners' premier event. The brand has teamed up with elite marathon runner Josh Cox to become the ultimate hydration partner, inspiring first-time and seasoned runners to perform at their best. This year, Poland Spring is supporting a team of runners from The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp who are running the ING New York City Marathon in an effort to help seriously ill children and their families throughout the Northeast.

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Poland Spring 100% Natural Spring Water, sourced from carefully selected natural springs, has supported various running events for more than 30 years, including the upcoming ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4, where the brand will supply water at both the start and finish lines. Poland Spring Natural Spring Water will also be available along the course at official hydration stations, including the Poland Spring Hydration Station at Mile 17 where Poland Spring volunteers will provide cups of water and live DJ entertainment to help encourage the runners and cheer them on as they pass by. "We are proud to be the official bottled water sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon," says Angela Barile, Group Marketing Manager, Nestle Waters Regional Spring Water Brands. "We share these runners' passion to be their very best and are excited to be a running partner for all participants on their journey to betterment."

This year, Poland Spring is supporting a team of five runners from The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp founded by Paul Newman in 1988 that is dedicated to providing a "different kind of healing" to 20,000 seriously ill children and family members throughout the Northeast free of charge. By securing ING New York City Marathon entries for these runners and providing them with expert training advice leading up to the race, Poland Spring is encouraging them to perform at their very best in support of a meaningful cause. "I'm excited to have Poland Spring's support for the ING New York City Marathon," says Jenny Schwab, a runner from Team Hole in the Wall. "Their encouragement will help me cross the finish line on race day in support of a great cause!"

Along with Poland Spring Natural Spring Water, Josh Cox will be at the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo from November 2-3 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Cox, the American record holder in the 50K, four-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier and three-time U.S. National Team member, will be at the Poland Spring booth sharing expert advice about personal training regimens, the importance of staying hydrated and injury prevention. "I'm excited to be a part of this celebrated event to inspire New York runners on their marathon journey," says Cox. "Hydration is crucial to success in Marathon events, which is why Poland Spring is an important part of my workout routine when I'm running in New York."

To learn more information about Poland Spring and share your running stories, please visit the Poland Spring Runner's Resource on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/polandspring.

About Nestle Waters North America
With 36 years of experience providing refreshment in the bottled water segment, Nestle Waters North America is the nation's leading bottled water company. The company produces six regional natural spring water brands in the U.S., distributes three international brands, produces Nestle® Pure Life®, its nationally distributed purified bottled water, and most recently, ready-to-drink iced teas. The company's dedication to quality products, employee development, bringing shared value to communities, and its commitment to environmental stewardship, especially in the areas of water use, energy and packaging, has led Nestle Waters North America to the third largest non-alcoholic beverage company position in the U.S.

About the ING New York City Marathon
NYRR's premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners racing four laps of Central Park. Now, almost 50,000 participants from all over the globe flock to New York City every November for an adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators and a TV audience of 330 million.

About the New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 54 years, NYRR has grown from a local running club to the world's premier community running organization. NYRR's mission is to empower everyone, of all ages and abilities—beginners and competitive athletes, the young and the elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildren—to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.

NYRR's races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs give hundreds of thousands of people each year the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to start running and keep running for life. NYRR's premier event, the famed ING New York City Marathon, attracts the world's top pro runners and committed amateurs alike while also raising millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for the City. But NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire more than 100,000 kids in underserved communities in New York City, all 50 states, and around the world.

Headquartered in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model that teams contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible. To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org.

About The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a community dedicated to providing "a different kind of healing" to children and their families coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other serious illnesses. Through summer sessions and family weekend programs at the Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, and year-round outreach to hospitals and clinics throughout the Northeast, the Camp serves more than 20,000 children and family members annually. All services are free of charge.

SOURCE Nestle Waters North America