Now Gabrielle Apollon
Runs Saturdays Half-Marathon for Haiti Relief
Teams up with Team World Vision
Proceeds also go to Clean Water and Sanitation Programs in Kenya
Over $200,000 Raised So Far
April 2, 2010, Seattle After escaping the January 12th Haiti Earthquake with her life, 22 year-old Gabrielle Apollon, New York based, will run in this Saturdays 13.1 Half Marathon in Queens, New York to raise money for World Visions on-going relief efforts to Haiti quake victims. She and other runners in Team World Vision have raised over $200,000 in pledges.
On January 12th, Gabrielle was in Port Au Prince researching development in Haiti since hurricanes swept through that nation in 2008. She had left the Hotel Christophe just before the building collapsed. After recovering from the initial shock, she sprang into action, carrying the injured to medical facilities and assisting doctors. Gabrielle left Haiti several days later with just the clothes on her back.
Gabrielle and other Team World Vision runners will run in the 13.1 Half Marathon Saturday morning.
Other notable Team World Vision stories include: Sy Hoekstra, Columbia University senior who is legally blind. So far, Sy has raised $2,000. Its his first race. A group of homeless men from New Yorks All Angels Church is also participating. So far theyve raised more than $1,700.
Team World Vision started in 2003 when individuals began participating in various events on their own to raise funds for World Vision. By 2005, World Vision had organized a formal team of 95 runners who participated in the Chicago Marathon. Since then the team has developed a presence in various athletic events across the United States with participation from more than 2,000 athletes. For more information visit www.teamworldvision.org
When: 9:13am Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
Where: Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, NY 11375
Who: 600 Team World Vision members
Local Team World Vision contacts:
Kirsten Stearns, 212-945-8327
Michael Chitwood, 312-841-6107
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the worlds poor regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit, www.worldvision.org/press
