Title
To honor and recognize the 34th Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, October 20, 2013.
Body
WHEREAS, Nationwide Children's Hospital is the title beneficiary of the 34th Columbus Marathon, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Marathon was the 17th-largest marathon in the United States last year, and is one of the top marathons to qualify runners for the Boston Marathon; and
WHEREAS, in its inaugural partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital last year, the marathon raised nearly $1 million for the life-saving work of the hospital; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked in U.S. News & World Report's 2012-2013 "America's Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll" and provides wellness, preventative, diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative care for infants, children, and adolescents regardless of ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, there will be twenty-four Patient Champions stationed at each mile, one "Encore Mile" dedicated to Patient Champions from last year and one "Angel Mile" dedicated to the special children who have left us too soon, and hundreds of participants will be raising funds for Nationwide Children's Hospital, with the Columbus Marathon once again pledging a $100,000 match; and
WHEREAS, the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon has another sold-out field of 18,000 runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants in the marathon and 1/2 marathon, and children are encouraged to participate in the Highlights Kids' Run in cooperation with Highlights magazine and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and recognize the 34th Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, and joins the tens of thousands of Central Ohioans who will line the course to cheer the participants on Sunday, October 20, 2013.