Over $630,000 raised for local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge

VANCOUVER, June 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Olympic-bound athlete Reid Coolsaet finished first at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon today, in his final run before the 2012 London Olympics. Elite runner Kip Kangogo and Olympic athlete Eric Gillis finished second place and third place respectively in an exciting finish to today's half-marathon race. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K race brought out more than 7,000 runners to the city's scenic Stanley Park where thousands of spectators cheered and more than $630,000 was raised for 60 local charities.

Under cloudy skies, Reid Coolsaet, of Hamilton, ON, finished first with an impressive time of 1:03:16, just five seconds shy of the course record set by Patrick Nthiwa in 2007. Lethbridge's Kip Kangogo finished second crossing the finish line 12 seconds behind Coolsaet at 1:03:28. Eric Gillis, of Antigonish, NS, followed closely behind, finishing with a time of 1:03.56, in his final run before the Olympics. Krista Duchene of Guelph, ON, finished first in the women's category and placed 13^th overall at 1:14:03, followed by Kenya's Anne Jelegat with a time of 1:16:43 and Calgary's Lisa Harvey at 1:18:36.

"Today's race was exciting for both the city of Vancouver and the sport of running and we saw Canada's elite runners finish in top spots in their final race before the London Olympics," said Clifton Cunningham, Race Director, Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K. "Runners and spectators alike should be proud of their efforts for both the sport of running and in giving back to local causes through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge."

As of press time, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge raised $630,000 and is well on its way to reaching the target goal of $650,000 for 60 local charities. This exceeds last year's total of $575,000. In addition, Scotiabank will award $5,000 to the charity with the most runners, $5,000 to the charity with the highest amount of dollars raised per runner, and $5,000 to the charity that raises the most funds. Scotiabank will also donate $2,000 to the charity of the top individual fundraiser for a total of $17,000 in charity prizing.

"Scotiabank would like to thank everyone who ran for the sake of others this morning in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K," said Rob Wilkins, District Vice-President, Downtown Vancouver/Northern B.C. District. "We are proud that 100 percent of the proceeds raised in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge will go directly to the 60 participating charities involved in today's event."

Race Day Results:

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Male

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Female

5K Male

5K Female

For more highlights and complete race results, please visit: www.vancouverhalf.com

To see a list of charities involved in the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, click here.

About the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K:

The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series.  As one of Vancouver's premier running events, the SVHM attracts more than 7,000 runners and walkers of all levels, including many elite athletes. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K takes place on Sunday, June 24^th starting at 7:30 a.m. for the Half-Marathon and 9:30 a.m. for the 5K.  For more information: www.vancouverhalf.com

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, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over the last 5 years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

Image with caption: "Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, ON crosses the finish line at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon on June 24, 2012. Coolsaet placed first with a time of 1:03:16, just five seconds shy of the course record. (CNW Group/Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120624_C3842_PHOTO_EN_15651.jpg

Image with caption: "Krista Duchene of Guelph, ON places first in the women's category at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon on June 24, 2012 with a time of 1:14:03. Duchene placed 13th overall in the half-marathon race. (CNW Group/Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120624_C3842_PHOTO_EN_15653.jpg

Image with caption: "Olympic-bound athletes Reid Coolsaet (left) and Eric Gillis (right) celebrate after finishing the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon on June 24, 2012. Coolsaet finished first in the race with a time of 1:03:16, and Gillis placed third with a time of 1:03.56. (CNW Group/Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120624_C3842_PHOTO_EN_15652.jpg

Image with caption: "Honouary Chair of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and Vancouver Canuck Mason Raymond (centre) poses with Scotiabank Charity Challenge participants. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K raised more than $630,000 for local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. (CNW Group/Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120624_C3842_PHOTO_EN_15654.jpg