INDIANAPOLIS
(September 11, 2015)
The 500 Festival, a nonprofit
organization providing life-enriching events and celebrating the legacy of the
Indianapolis 500, and the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders are teaming up to set
the pace for the 2016 OneAmerica 500
Festival Mini-Marathon. On Monday, September 14, the opening day for 2016
Mini-Marathon registration, the Colts Cheerleaders will take to the streets of
Indianapolis to run the 13.1 mile Mini-Marathon course. The team has one goal:
finish faster than the average finish time of the Mini-Marathon, 2:33. If the
team can beat this time, the 500 Festival will donate $5,000 to the National
Stroke Association in their honor.
On
Monday at 9 a.m. the team will start downtown near Washington and West Street,
heading west to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where they will complete a lap
around the famed 2.5 mile oval before returning back downtown to finish at
Military Park. The community can cheer on the team along the course and on
social media using #FasterThanColtsCheer.
As
the official Pacesetters for the 2016 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon,
the Colts Cheerleaders’ finish time will be the official pace to beat for next
year’s race. For each 2016 Mini-Marathon participant who finishes faster than
the Colts Cheerleaders, the 500 Festival will donate $1 to a charity, voted on
by the participants. In addition, the Indianapolis Colts will also donate $1
per person who beats the official pace to the National Stroke Association, up
to $6,000.
“2016
marks the 40th running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
What started as a fun opportunity to connect the community with the
Indianapolis 500 has evolved into one of the world’s largest half-marathons and
is a vital part of our city’s fabric,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO, 500
Festival. “We’re proud to join forces with the Colts Cheerleaders to set the
pace for this year’s Indy Mini. When we extended the challenge, the team
responded with the enthusiasm and commitment thousands of Mini participants
demonstrate every year. We hope the Pacesetters inspire our community to also
accept the challenge and join us for the Mini-Marathon.”
Not
only are the Colts Cheerleaders serving as the Official Pacesetters, the team
will also participate in the 2016 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon as part
of the event’s Mini with a Meaning program, which
provides non-profit organizations with opportunities to raise awareness and
funds through supporter participation. The team will participate on behalf of
the National Stroke Association, an organization
that’s deeply personal to the Colts Cheerleaders. In December 2014, their
former teammate, Tessa David, suffered a stroke at the age of 28. An athlete
who was in peak physical condition, Tessa’s stroke left her teammates, family
and friends in shock. Taking on the challenge of setting the pace for the
Mini-Marathon provides the team with an opportunity to show their support for
Tessa and to help raise awareness of the warning signs of a stroke.
One
of the nation’s premiere half-marathons, the Indy Mini is the 500 Festival’s
largest fundraiser. Race registrations help support the 500 Festival’s free
youth programs and events. By getting nearly 40,000 moving, the OneAmerica 500
Festival Mini-Marathon and Finish Line 500 Festival 5K have become the state’s
largest health initiatives, helping Hoosiers get focused on their health and
well-being.
Registration
for the 2016 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will open on Monday,
September 14th at indymini.com. Through October 15, the registration
fee is $65. Pricing after October 15 is as follows:
October
16, 2015 - February 15, 2016: $75
February
16, 2016 - May 3, 2016: $85
May
4 – 6, 2016: $95
For
registration details and to learn more, visit www.indymini.com.
About
the 500 Festival
Founded
in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces more
than 50 life-enriching events and programs
while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering
positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. One of the
largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people
attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding,
the 500 Festival has contributed more than $350 million in economic value to
Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, please visit www.500festival.com, follow us on Twitter
@500festival, or on Facebook.