• SVHM will benefit 40 local charities
• Vancouver Canuck forward Mason Raymond and Honorary Chair of Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge on-site

VANCOUVER, June 23, 2011 /CNW/ - More than 6,000 runners are expected to participate in Sunday's Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, which will raise much needed funding for 40 community causes through the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge.   The Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge is chaired by Vancouver Canuck forward Mason Raymond who will announce the total funds raised at the event and cheer for those running for the sake of others.

In its 13^th year, the SVHM starts at UBC's Thunderbird Arena and heads onto Marine Drive, along the shores of the Burrard Inlet to the finish line in Stanley Park on the lawn of the Stanley Park Fish House.

Photo Opportunities:

• Half-Marathon start line at the Thunderbird Arena, UBC, between East Mall and Wesbrook Mall.  7:00 a.m. start time.
• Elite finishing time at Second Beach, Stanley Park.  Elite men's expected time: 8:03 a.m.; Elite Women's expected finishing time: 8:12 a.m.
• Mason Raymond on-site in the Charity Village at the Fish House, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
• 5K run/walk begins and ends in Stanley Park, Fish House South Lawn, 9:15 a.m.
• Awards Ceremony on Fish House South Lawn, 10:00 a.m.

Half-Marathon Photo Opportunity Times & Locations

Running for the Sake of Others!
There are 40 great reasons to run this year with 40 official charities participating in the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, chaired by Vancouver Canuck forward Mason Raymond!  The Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge hopes to raise $600,000 this year with 100 per cent of the proceeds raised going to the official participating charities.

Through the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, charities vie to win one of three $5,000 prizes courtesy of Scotiabank.  These prizes will be awarded to the charity with the most funds raised overall, the charity with the most funds raised per runner, and the charity with the most runners participating (with a minimum of $10 raised per runner).  For those that cannot run, participation is still possible through pledging your favourite runner or the charity of your choice to help them compete for the extra funding.  Online fundraising is open until July 10^th, 2011.

In the event's 12-year history, the SVHM has raised more than $1.7 million for local charities through runner participation and spectator pledges.

Follow our Joe Runner contest winners!
Our Joe Runner contest winners are transforming from average runners to Half-Marathon finishers and are all running in support of a great cause:

• Sarah Reid - running for BC Adopt;
• Julie Topolnoski - running for Tapestry Foundation; and
• Erin Schwaiger - running for Special Olympics BC.

Our Joe Runners will be joined by celebrity runners, Crystal Darche (JR FM), James Sutton (The Peak FM), Dawn Chubai (Breakfast Television) and Greg Harper (Breakfast Television).  The celebrity runners will motivate and participate our Joe Runners while fundraising for the BC SPCA, Big Sisters and Big Brothers of BC.  Follow their stories here. 

Media Access
The media tent is located near the finish area on the South Lawn of the Stanley Park Fish House.  Please check-in to arrange interviews and photo opportunities.