PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release

CONTACT Willie Fowlkes, (936) 588-9966

THE WOODLANDS MARATHON ANNOUNCES LAUNCH CHARITY CHALLENGE CHARITIES AND KICKOFF EVENT
THE WOODLANDS, TX (September 10, 2013) On the strength of over $116,000 being raised and donated from its 2013 event, The Woodlands Marathon Management aims to see more than 150 runners participating and raising over $150,000 for charities and non-profit organizations in 2014 through its Launch Charity Challenge. It was a primary goal of ours when we revitalized The Woodlands Marathon in 2012 to support charities and the local community, said director Danny Golden. On Monday, October 7, 2013, The Woodlands Marathon Management (TWMM) will host the 3rd annual Launch Charity Challenge Kickoff Party, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at Gooses Acre Bistro and Irish Pub, located at 21 Waterway Ave. along The Woodlands Waterway. Attendees can both run the weekly Gooses Acre social run along the waterway while meeting participating charities in the coming years Launch Charity Challenge. Interfaith of The Woodlands returns for a third straight year and TWMM has selected Montgomery County Youth Services and The 100 Club as its highlight charities. Title sponsors each year have the opportunity to select their own highlight charity as part of their benefits package. Fidelity Investments has selected Casa De Esperanza and St. Lukes The Woodlands Hospital maintains the St. Lukes Foundation as their respective choices. Pathfinder Pediatric, Fleet Feet Sports and Wrights Printing and Marketing have designated Texas Childrens Hospital, Girls On The Run and Star of Hope, respectively, as their beneficiaries. The Launch Charity Challenge will add a Spin-A-Thon component, presented by RydeNow Indoor Cycling and Bikeland, to allow non-runners or individuals not participating in the event to raise funds for their charity while spinning on spin bikes. Whether fundraising as a team or an individual, over 20 stations will be available to be reserved. Participants in the Launch Charity Challenge compete for an $18,000 prize purse that is awarded to the top fundraisers charity selections. The top overall fundraisers charity receives an additional $3,000 for its participant who raises the most funds. The Woodlands Marathon Management will again partner with Reason2Race, who helped runners reach their personal fundraising goals totaling over $98,000 by setting up their own fundraising pages.

Bellaires Diane McGehee, the top fundraiser in 2013, had an additional $3,000 donated to her charity, Together in Hope. For more information on the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon, please visit www.thewoodlandsmarathon.com. About The Woodlands Marathon Management

The Woodlands Marathon Management is an event production company that operates with a primary goal of providing individuals the opportunity to participate in a running event that promotes the advancement of running. The directors of The Woodlands Marathon Management share a passion for The Woodlands community, the Houston region and the active sport lifestyle. They have teamed up to produce this premier event that will provide The Woodlands and surrounding communities options for living a healthy lifestyle with purpose.

About The Woodlands

Located just 30 minutes north of Houston, Texas and minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, The Woodlands is the destination for leisure guests, individual business travelers and groups of all sizes. Visitors to The Woodlands enjoy more than eight million square feet of worldclass shopping, dining and entertainment options, more than 194 miles of hike-and-bike trails, 124 parks, the 1,700-acre George Mitchell Nature Preserve, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, kayaking on Lake Woodlands, and taking a cruise on The Woodlands Waterway. The Woodlands features world-class sporting events including the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas, Insperity Golf Championship and the Nike South Invitational. The Woodlands also is home to more than 1,500 guestrooms in upscale and boutique properties, select service, limited service, conference and convention centers and a resort. For more information on The Woodlands, go to www.VisitTheWoodlands.com. Also, like The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VisitTheWoodlands, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheWoodlandsCVB and view them on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/TheWoodlandsCVB.

-TWM-