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Young Athlete Aims to Break World Record: Running a Marathon on Seven Continents for Seven Charities

NEW YORK, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Erin Sprague (age 24) is "in the running" to become the youngest person in the world to complete a 26.2 mile marathon on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Erin has completed five out of seven marathons/continents, and will run next in Antarctica in March 2008.

In addition to setting the record, Erin co-founded a non-profit company called In the Running, which pairs a grassroots charitable organization on each continent with each marathon. "In the Running connects an extreme personal challenge with an innovative platform for international grassroots awareness," says runner and CEO Erin.

In the Running supports seven existing organizations that combat urgent global challenges: obesity, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, poverty, peace, global warming, and education. "The sponsored organizations are on the ground solving real problems, but need vehicles like In the Running to combat donor fatigue and expand outreach," says co-founder Dana Worth.

Erin graduated from Harvard University and currently has a full time job at a New York-based financial firm, in addition to her training and In the Running. In the Running's volunteer staff personally funds all travel and operating costs so that 100 percent of external donations go to charity.

Erin will run the following marathons and In the Running will donate to the following organizations:

    Date       Continent   Marathon         Sponsored         Cause
                                            Charity

    Nov.       North       ING New York     Girls on the Run  Youth Fitness
    2005       America     City Marathon,
                           USA

    Oct.       Asia        ANA Beijing      The Polaris       Human
    2006                   Marathon,        Project           Trafficking
                           China

    Mar.       Africa      Kilimanjaro      Kenya Network     HIV/AIDS
    2007                   Marathon,        for Women with
                           Tanzania         AIDS

    Jun.       South       Sao Paulo        A Drop in the     Poverty
    2007       America     International    Ocean
                           Marathon,
                           Brazil

    Oct.       Europe      Adidas Dublin    Co-operation      Peace
    2007                   Marathon,        Ireland           Reconciliation
                           Ireland

    Feb.       Antarctica  Antarctica       Antarctic and     Environmental
    2008                   Marathon,        Southern Ocean    Preservation
                           Antarctica       Coalition

    Jul.       Australia   Gold Coast       The Silver        Aboriginal
    2008                   Airport          Lining            Advancement/
                           Marathon,        Foundation        Education
                           Australia

In the Running accepts secure donations online at www.intherunning.org; or by check made out to "In the Running," P.O. Box 1402, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, USA

Pictures are available at http://www.intherunning.org/blog.html and upon request.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Erin Sprague

http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=73683

Christine Coolidge

http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=73670

Dana Worth

http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=73672

SOURCE In the Running

Tags: National, Sports, new york

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