Walt Disney World Resort and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals team up to present the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Walt Disney World Resort and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have extended their long-term relationship with a new agreement naming Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit raising funds and awareness for North American children’s hospitals, as the presenting sponsor of the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  The agreement gives Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals an opportunity to increase both awareness and fundraising for the Network’s 170 children’s hospitals. It also gives  race participants another way to combine their passion for running with ways to support the charitable efforts of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Scheduled for February 20-23, 2014, the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is geared toward women and girls of all ages. Featured events include the runDisney kids races, a Royal Family 5K, the new Disney Enchanted 10K race and a half marathon that traces a 13.1-mile course through Magic Kingdom® and Epcot® parks, plus the new Glass Slipper Challenge for runners completing both the half marathon and the 10K race.

“We have a shared commitment to help kids and their families and are honored to team with runDisney as the presenting sponsor of the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend,” said John Lauck, President and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “We have made many meaningful memories with Disney throughout our 26-year relationship and look forward to continuing that legacy with this new opportunity.”

The relationship between Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Disney dates back to 1987 when Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals hosted its annual Telethon at Disneyland Resort in California. The Walt Disney World Resort later hosted the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, a PGA TOUR event, and currently hosts Celebration Week to honor the children of the charity’s Champions program.

“We’ve enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Faron Kelley, director of sports marketing at Walt Disney World Resort. “We are eager to work closely with them again through our Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in ways that support the extraordinary work they are doing with children in their 170 hospitals nationwide.”

In addition to being a celebrated part of the race weekend for thousands of runners and volunteers, the charity will receive up to 400 registrations for the sold-out race that will be reserved for athletes interested in fundraising for the group. Half marathon hopefuls must fundraise a minimum of $300 to participate in the event while runners who commit to raise more than $1,600 also will receive a two-day Park Hopper pass and a two-night stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

To learn more about this new collaboration and how to participate in Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, visit: princesshalfmarathon.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org or runDisney.com.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals:

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

About runDisney

runDisney is a series of events providing runners unique opportunities to run through Disney theme parks.  Race participants earn Disney-themed medals, experience legendary Disney entertainment and guest service and ultimately celebrate their accomplishments with a Disney vacation.  The original event in the series, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, takes place in January followed by the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in February, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler in September and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November.  Disneyland hosts the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January and the Disneyland Half Marathon in September during Labor Day Weekend.  More than 163,000 running enthusiasts participate in runDisney events each year. For more information, visit runDisney.com and follow us on Facebook (runDisney) and Twitter @runDisney and Instagram @runDisney.