Miles for Meso Race & Walk Fundraising Information
Get Ready for the 2013 Alton Miles for Meso
**Save the Date!!! Saturday, September 21, 2013 @ 8:30 AM**
Miles for Meso is a 5K race and 2K fun run/walk held less than 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis in historic Alton, Illinois. This exciting event takes place in September in celebration of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Presented by the Simmons Firm and coordinated by the Metro Tri Club, all proceeds from the event are donated to mesothelioma research. The 2012 race raised approximately $25,000 for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
About
The Alton race is considered the flagship event for Miles for Meso. Since the Illinois river town hosted the first Miles for Meso race in 2009, the Alton race has raised $100,000 for mesothelioma research.
“It’s our goal to continue to use the Alton race as springboard for other races around the country,” said Mike Wever, Alton Race Director & president of the Metro Tri Club, the sports club organizing the event.
In 2011, Alton Miles for Meso organizers decided to expand the race to attract elite runners from around the world. Five times more prize money – totaling $6,200 was awarded to the top 5 runners in both the men's and women's elite divisions. Since then runners from around the world have traveled to Alton to compete in the Alton Miles for Meso race.
For more information, questions or to learn more about elite category, send an e-mail to elite@milesformeso.org or contact Race Director Mike Wever at 314-712-6629.
Address
The Simmons Firm, across from Marquette Catholic High School
One Court Street, Alton, Illinois, 62002
Map it!
Registration
Elite Registration
Registration for elite athletes is now open!
Click here to download the PDF Elite Registration form >>>
Additional details including qualifying times, course bonuses and the elite race registration package can be found on the Miles for Meso Elite Race Page.
Age Group 5K & Walker Registration
Coming Soon!
Race Times
Age Group 5K Run & 2K Fun Run/Walk beings @ 8:30 a.m.
Elite 5K Race beings @ 9:30 a.m.
2013 Prizes
Elite athletes will race for a $10,000 purse this year. The most ever for a Miles for Meso race. The top TEN 5K Elite Race finishers in both the elite men’s and women’s categories will receive the following cash prizes:
1st Place - $2,000
2nd Place - $1,000
3rd Place - $750
4th Place - $500
5th Place - $250
6th - $100
7th - $100
8th - $100
9th - $100
10th - $100
More information for Elite Runners >>>
The top three winners* of the 5K Run will win the following:
1st Place - $250
2nd Place - $150
3rd Place - $100
*The Age Group 5K Race Cash Prizes are available to Illinois & Missouri residents only.
2012 Miles for Meso Race Wrap-Up
The 2011 Alton Miles for Meso 5K Raced raised a total of $25,000 for mesothelioma research.
More than 700 people registered to walk or run in the 2011 Alton race, which took place in conjunction with Mesothelioma Awareness Day. In Nov. 2010, the U.S. Congress passed a proclamation designating Sept. 26 as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, a day to learn more about mesothelioma, a terminal lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with this rare disease every year.
Firm Chairman John Simmons presented a check for $25,000 to Mary Hesdorffer, the director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, and mesothelioma survivor Julie Gundlach. Hesdorffer said the money will help support research grants the foundation awards to doctors conducting peer-reviewed research of mesothelioma and will help support patient resources offered through the foundation’s website www.curemeso.org.
The money was raised through a combination of registration fees, personal donations and sponsorships, including the event's Gold Sponsors: Fathom Online Marketing, First Clover Leaf Bank, and Jenner & Block.
New to this year's race, event organizers seperated the Age Group 5K and Elite 5K into two seperate events. Race Director Mike Wever said he had several people tell him they enjoyed the unique chance to watch the elite runners compete. About 25 elite men and women runners attended the race and raced for the $6,200 purse.
In the women's elite division, Hirut Mandefro, of Ethiopia, claimed first place with a time of 16:08. She set a new course record, surpassing the previous record of 16:16 set by Stephanie Pezzullo in 2011 by eight seconds. Mandefro received an additional $500 bonus for setting a new course record.
“The Elite women runners were considerably faster this year,” said Wever. “Not only was a new course record set for the women, but all top five runners scored faster times than the top five runners from 2011.”
Chemtai Rionotukei, of Kenya, took second with 16:14, also surpassing the old course record. Marion Kandie, of Kenya, placed third with 16:35; Lydia Kosgei, of Kenya, took fourth at 16:36; and Rebeka Stowe, of the United States, placed fifth with 16:42.
For complete race results, visit the Miles for Meso Race Results Page.
The Alton Miles for Meso 5K Run & 2K Fun Run/Walk will return Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Mark your calendars now. Stay connected with the Miles for Meso community throughout the year by "liking" the Miles for Meso Fan Page on Facebook.
