Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k Group Charity Challenge raises
    $200,000 for ten local charities

    VANCOUVER, June 22 /CNW/ - Kenyan Moses Macharia made it three wins in a
row in the 2008 Canada Running Series as he cruised to victory with a time
1:04:50 ahead of a record field of 4,220 runners at the 10th Anniversary
Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k (SVHM). Macharia's compatriot Florence
Jepkosgei had a similarly easy time of things taking the women's title in
1:14:04, more than three minutes ahead of Calgary's Lisa Harvey. Another 500
individuals participated in the event's 5k Run/Walk. The race attracted
runners from 24 countries, seven provinces and 24 American States. The record
turn out also raised an impressive $200,000 and counting for ten local
charities.
    Macharia, who had already won the Harry's Spring Run-Off 8k and the
Sporting Life 10k in Toronto, ran shoulder to shoulder with fellow Kenyan
Josephat Ongeri for the first 10k (32:24). He then made a decisive move
between the 11k and 12k marks on the rise from Jericho up to 4th Avenue, and
was able to coast to victory from there. Ongeri held on for second place, 25
seconds back. Toronto's Danny Kassap came home a distant third but was the
first Canadian to cross the line at 1:07:26.
    Jepkosgei of Eldorat, Kenya is just 24 years old and one of nine
children. She has been running since she was 12 years old, and is the only
runner in her family. Her winnings will be used to cover the school fees for
one of her sister's children back in Kenya.Half-Marathon Male
    ------------------
    1. Moses Macharia, Kenya                   1:04:50
    2. Josephat Ongeri, Kenya                  1:05:15
    3. Danny Kassap, Toronto, ON               1:07:26

    Half-Marathon Female
    --------------------
    1. Florence Jepkosgei, Kenya               1:14:04
    2. Lisa Harvey, Calgary, AB                1:17:29
    3. Josiane Aboungono, North York, ON       1:20:28

    Masters Male (40+)
    ------------------
    1. Louis-Philippe Garnier, Montreal, PQ    1:13:08     43 Years
    2. Neil Holm, Courtnay, BC                 1:13:41     41 Years
    3. Norman Tinkham, Maple Ridge, BC         1:14:07     44 Years

    Masters Female (40+)
    --------------------
    1. Nancy Tinari, Coquitlam, BC             1:21:04     49 Years
    2. Joan MacGrath, New Westminster, BC      1:24:41     46 Years
    3. Kris Kana, Vancouver, BC                1:27:51     53 YearsThe Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is part of the prestigious
Canada Running Series. In an exciting development to celebrate the event's
tenth anniversary, the SVHM expanded this year's Scotiabank Group Charity
Challenge to ten charities:-  The Alzheimer's Society of B.C.
    -  The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division
    -  BC Children's Hospital Foundation
    -  Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
    -  Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland
    -  CKNW Orphan's Fund
    -  The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
    -  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
    -  Rick Hansen Foundation
    -  VGH & UBC Hospital FoundationIn its ten year history, the event has raised $950,000 for local
charities. Scotiabank is sponsoring three team prizes, each worth $5,000, for
the charities that raise the most money, raise the most money per runner, and
have the most runners participating (with a minimum of $10 raised per runner).
The Dr. Patty Clugston Award and $2,000 prize will be presented to the top
individual fundraiser. The awards will be announced after July 9th, the
deadline for all pledges to be handed in.
    For complete race results, please visit
http://www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm.
    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education and social services. Scotiabank is on the World Wide
Web at www.scotiabank.com./NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
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