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For Immediate Release
“Run for the Cheetah” Chicago
First Annual 5K Run/Walk to Raise Conservation Awareness For One of
Africa's Most Beautiful Big Cats
An Exciting Event for All Members of the Family Occurred On Sunday
April 6, 2008
Chicago celebrated the world's fastest land animal at the first
annual 5 K “Run for The Cheetah” on Sunday, April 6 at 9:00 a.m.
This Run was organized by the Chicago Chapter of the Cheetah
Conservation Fund. It was held in Lincoln Park, along the lakefront. In
addition to the 5K Run/Walk, there was a non-competitive kids dash where
everyone was a winner. Just under 700 runners participated.
Mayor Richard M. Daley was the Honorary Chair and Host for the event.
Kat Powers, Director of North American Operations for the Cheetah
Conservation Fund, presented Suzzane Malec-McKenna, Commissioner for the
Department of Environment (attending on the Mayor's behalf), with the
2007 Conservation Leadership in America Award. The Commissioner
addressed the city's efforts to advance conservation in Chicago.
Bill Kurtis was the Master of Ceremonies and spoke to the crowd about
Dr. Laurie Marker's work with the cheetah in Namibia and his personal
experience with the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Dr. Marker and the
cheetah. Bill Kurtis provided an animated countdown to the Start of the
first Chicago Run for the Cheetah with runners and walkers of all age
groups crossing the line.
The Great Lakes Kangal Dogs Organization was represented with three
dogs and one puppy for attendees and children to meet. These dogs are a
unique example of one of the Cheetah Conservation Fund's most successful
conservation efforts with human-carnivore conflict. The dogs are donated
to Namibian farmers to protect livestock, ultimately reducing cheetahs
being killed.
With only 12,000 cheetahs remaining in the wild, sadly, these cats
are threatened with extinction. All proceeds from the run will benefit
the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia, a conservation non-profit
founded by Dr. Laurie Marker, one of the world's leading authorities on
the cheetah. She founded CCF in 1990 as an international center for
cheetah conservation. For more information about CCF and cheetahs visit
www.cheetah.org
The Run For The Cheetah, Chicago is sponsored by National Geographic
and Midtronics.
For further information on the run go to
www.runforthecheetah.org
Or Call, (817.441.7205)
Press contact: Jayne Bazos at ccfchicago@cheetah.org
Start of the race (Stephanie Rhodes, Jayne Bazos,
Bill Kurtis (MC), Suzzie Malek-McKenna Commissioner of the Department of
the Environment - accepting the Mayor's award from CCF - 2007
Conservationist of the Year Award in America, Matti Nghikembua of CCF
Namibia, Kris Bazos and Nick McMahon)
The Great Lakes Kangal Dogs Organization's dogs
delighted the audicne with their presence.
Audrey Sung, Los Angeles CA, was the first woman
to cross the finish line. She and Bob Chenoweth, Chicago, IL, the first
male to cross the line, received one-year memberships to the Cheetah Gym
in Chicago.
CCF's Senior Research Assistant, Matti Nghikembua.
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