B.A.A announces charities for 111th Boston Marathon

BOSTON, Mass. The Boston Athletic Association has announced the 21 charities that will take part in the 2007 Boston Marathon Charity Program. Approximately 1,200 runners will represent these official charities in the 111th Boston Marathon on April 16, 2007. In 2006, the Charity Program raised over $8 million. Over $63 million has been raised by the Charity Program since 1994.

Among the 21 charities are six new to the program:
American Stroke Association - Tedy's Team
Good Sports
Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston
Lazarus House, Inc.
Massachusetts Melanoma Foundation
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC)
Remaining in the program are 15 other local charities:
Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter
American Liver Foundation, N.E. Chapter - Run for Research
Boston Medical Center
Casa Myrna Vazquez
Children's Hospital Boston - Miles for Miracles, Team Boston
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge
The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Mass. Chapter - Team in Training
MetroLacrosse
Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center
Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central New England Chapter - Marathon Strides Against MS
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Inc.
Read Boston
Thompson Island Outward Bound

Contact information, applications and descriptions of each charity can be found on the B.A.A.'s Official Charity page (baa.org/BostonMarathon/Charity.asp). Applications are now available and runners are encouraged to apply early.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.

Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial Services. Earlier this year, the Boston Marathon launched along with the Flora London Marathon also in April the World Marathon Majors series. Other events in the series include the BMW Berlin Marathon, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon.

Media Contacts:

Jack Fleming office: 617-236-1652, x2627; mobile: 617-459-1587; fleming@baa.org or Marc Chalufour (617-236-1652, x2632; mobile: 617-459-1586; chalufour@baa.org.