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MILWAUKEE (9/15/2008) - Thousands of runners, wheelchair participants and walkers will hit the pavement Saturday, Sept. 20, for the 31st Briggs & Al's Run & Walk for Children's Hospital. Start line ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. at 12th Street and Wisconsin Avenue on the Marquette University campus in downtown Milwaukee. The eight-kilometer wheelchair race begins at 10:15 a.m., followed by the eight-kilometer run at 10:30 a.m. Walkers will follow the runners on three- and five-mile routes.
Online registration is available through noon Friday, Sept. 19, at www.alsrun.com. Day-of registration opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, near the event start line. Advance registration is $25 for adult runners, $20 for adult walkers and $8 for children 12 and younger. Day-of registration fees are $30, $25 and $10. All participants receive a commemorative T-shirt.
All routes end at Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds), where participants are invited to attend the Finish Line Celebration at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage featuring entertainment and awards ceremony at 12:15 p.m. A health and fitness fair and children's area will be located near the Briggs & Stratton stage. The children's area will feature a variety of games, attractions and entertainment throughout the day. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on the festival grounds.
"This event makes a world of difference for the children and their families who benefit from the top-quality, standard-setting pediatric health care Children's Hospital provides," said Linda Schieble, Children's Hospital and Health System Foundation director of special events. "Corporate sponsors and pledgeraisers allow us to make a healthier future a reality for many children in Wisconsin and beyond through care, research, education and advocacy. I would especially like to thank Briggs & Stratton, the title sponsor, for their tireless commitment and generous support."
Throughout the past 30 years, Briggs & Al's Run & Walk has raised more than $9.4 million for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Funds raised will support the west tower expansion, which will open in spring 2009. The west tower will increase the 236-bed hospital to 294 beds and will have room for 72 more beds in the future. The state-of-the-art facility also will include a larger Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and an expanded Herma Heart Center to provide better care to children with congenital and other cardiac issues. To learn more about the west tower and to take a virtual tour visit thisismychildrens.org.
Participants are encouraged to raise $100 or more. One hundred percent of the funds raised directly support Children's Hospital programs. Participants raising at least $100 earn pledge prizes ranging from long-sleeved T-shirts to Door County weekend getaways. The top three pledge raisers will earn, respectively, two round-trip Midwest Airlines tickets, a Pfister Hotel romantic weekend for two including $150 gift certificate to the Mason Street Grill, and a $350 Boston Store gift certificate.
Briggs & Stratton is the title sponsor for this annual event. Other major sponsors include Boston Store, Marquette University and Tricom Funding.
For more information about Briggs & Al's Run & Walk, call (414) 266-1520 or visit www.alrun.com.
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