VANCOUVER, June 22 /CNW/ - The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon (SVHM)
& 5k will take place in Vancouver this Sunday, June 24, 2007. More than 4,700
competitors will participate in the event and fundraise for six local
health-care related charities in the inaugural Scotiabank Group Charity
Challenge.Photo Opportunities:
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    -   7:00 a.m.: The Half-Marathon starts at UBC at the corner of East Mall
        and University Boulevard (near the UBC Student Union Building and
        Aquatic Centre). The runners will make their way from UBC along the
        shores of the Burrard Inlet to the finish line in Stanley Park.

    -   Competition in the men's division is so strong there is anticipation
        one of the runners could dismantle Algerian Mustapha Bennacer's
        course record of 63:11 set in 2003.

    -   The women's division is likely a two-way race between Canada's
        marathon champ Lioudmila Kortchaguina and challenger Magdalene
        Mukunzi, a 24 year-old Kenyan who has been giving Kortchaguina some
        fierce competition this season.


    Half-Marathon Photo Opportunity Times and Locations:
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    Location                       Time Elite Lead         Time Main Pack of
                                   Runners will pass       Runners will pass
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    Start - UBC East Mall/
    University Boulevard           7:00 a.m.               7:00 a.m.
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    Spanish Banks                  7:20 a.m.               7:40 a.m.
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    Kitsilano Beach                7:45 a.m.               8:00 a.m.
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    Cross Burrard Bridge           7:50 a.m.               8:10 a.m.
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    English Bay Boat House         7:55 a.m.               8:20 a.m.
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    Finish Line - Second Beach     8:00 a.m.               8:40 a.m.
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    -   8:30 a.m.: The 5k Run/Walk begins in Stanley Park, which starts and
        finishes on the Stanley Park Fish House South Lawn.

    -   10:00 a.m.: Awards Ceremony on the Stanley Park Fish House South
        Lawn, recognizing top finishers in the Half-Marathon, 5k and BC
        Athletics Championship events.

    -   In its eight year history, the SVHM & 5k has raised $530,000 for
        local health programs funded by the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. In
        an exciting development to support additional health care-related
        charities and to boost participation and fundraising dollars, the
        SVHM has launched the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, a unique
        fundraising and awareness opportunity for the event's charitable
        partners:

        -  VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
        -  The Arthritis Society, B.C. and Yukon Division
        -  BC Children's Hospital Foundation
        -  The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
        -  Rick Hansen Foundation
        -  St. Paul's Hospital Foundation

    -   The Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge Award and $1,000 prize will be
        presented to the top individual fundraiser.Media Access:
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    A Media tent will be located near the finish area on the Stanley Park
Fish House South Lawn. Please check in to arrange interviews and photo
opportunities.
    This is the ninth year of the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k.
The fastest half-marathon in B.C., it is the third largest competitive run in
the Vancouver area and is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series and
the Sun Run Series.