VANCOUVER, June 24 /CNW/ - Mason Raymond, forward for the Vancouver Canucks will be in attendance at the 12th annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K on Sunday June 27th to cheer on more than 5,000 runners as they cross the finish line. Raymond, Honorary Chair of the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, will also announce the total funds raised for 29 charities participating in the event.

Photo Opportunities:
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    -   7:00 a.m.: The Half-Marathon starts at UBC at the Thunderbird Arena.
        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.

    -   8:00 a.m.: Finish Line at Second Beach. Elite men's finishers
        expected at 8:03 a.m. and women's elite finishers expected at 8:12
        a.m.

    -   8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.: Mason Raymond on-site

        -  In 'charity village' at Fish House Lawn signing autographs and
           meeting the public.
        -  On stage at 10:10 a.m. to announce Scotiabank Group Charity
           Challenge fundraising total.

    Half-Marathon Photo Opportunity Times and Locations:
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                                   Time Elite Lead         Time Main Pack of
    Location                       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 eleven year history, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k has raised $1.2 million for local charities - and hopes to surpass the $1.5 million mark this year. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K has expanded the 'Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge' to 29 charities in 2010. 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 people across the province each year:

Adoptive Families Association of BC     Colorectal Cancer Association of
    Alzheimer Society of B.C.               Canada
    Amnesty International                   Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
    The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon     Engineers Without Boarders
    Arts Umbrella                           Fragile X Foundation
    Asthma Society of Canada                Heart and Stoke Foundation
    Giovanni Bastone Foundation             The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    Gymnastics Canada                       of Canada
    BC Cancer Foundation                    MS Society of Canada - BC & Yukon
    BC Children's Hospital                  Division
    BC SPCA                                 MusicFest Vancouver
    Children's Heart Network                St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
    Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver       Tapestry Foundation
    Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland        Vancouver Aquarium
    Canadian Liver Foundation               YWCA Vancouver
    CNIB                                    Special Olympics BC

    -   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 29 participating charities of their choice as $1000, $750, $500,
        $250 and $250 prizes respectively.

    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.