VANCOUVER, June 25 /CNW/ - The 11th Annual Scotiabank Vancouver
Half-Marathon & 5k Run/Walk will take place in Vancouver this Sunday, June 28,
2009. More than 5,000 competitors will participate in the event and fundraise
for fifteen local charities in the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge.Photo Opportunities:
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    -   7:00 a.m.: The Half-Marathon starts at UBC at the Thunderbird Winter
        Sports Centre. The runners start on Thunderbird (between East Mall
        and Wesbrook Mall) and head out onto Marine Drive, making their way
        from UBC along the shores of the Burrard Inlet to the finish line in
        Stanley Park, on the lawn of the Stanley Park Fish House.

    -   Expect a strong East-West battle in the men's division between Jon
        Brown of Victoria B.C. and Giitah Macharia of Toronto.

    -   The women's race also promises a gripping East-West challenge, where
        Canadian Olympian Lisa Harvey will do battle with Toronto's Lioudmila
        Kortchaguina and Josiane Aboungono.


    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 Thunderbird
     Sports Arena                   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 Beach 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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    -   9:00 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 Media
        Challenge events.In its ten year history, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k
Run/Walk (SVHM) has raised $950,000 for local charities - and hopes to surpass
the $1.2 million mark this year. In an exciting development to celebrate the
event's eleventh anniversary, the SVHM has expanded the 'Scotiabank Group
Charity Challenge' to fifteen charities. Increasing the scope of this unique
fundraising and awareness opportunity is expected to boost event participation
and fundraising dollars to support the following charities whose programs and
services assist hundreds of thousands of clients across the province each
year:-  Adoptive Families Association of B.C.
           -  Alzheimer Society of B.C.
           -  The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division
           -  BC Cancer Foundation
           -  BC Children's Hospital Foundation
           -  Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
           -  Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland
           -  BC SPCA
           -  CNIB
           -  The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
           -  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
           -  MS Society of Canada - BC & Yukon Division
           -  St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
           -  Tapestry Foundation for Health Care
           -  YWCA Vancouver

    -   The Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge Award and $2,000 prize will be
        presented to the top individual fundraiser.

    -   Scotiabank is also sponsoring three team prizes, each worth $5,000.
        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) will each win $5,000 (one $5,000 prize per
        charity).

    -   Scotiabank Media Challenge awards will go to the top five runners
        representing media in the 5K race. Donations will be made to one of
        the fifteen participating charities of their choice as $1000, $750,
        $500, $250 and $250 prizes respectively.

    Media Access
    ------------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.

    The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is the fastest half-marathon
in B.C., is the third largest competitive run in the Vancouver area and is
part of the prestigious Canada Running Series and the Sun Run Series.
    Entry to the Expo, "Vancouver's Running Show", is free and open to all,
in the Empire Landmark Hotel - Coal Harbour Room (1400 Robson St). Show hours
are Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.