7/30/2019 Saratoga Palio seeks elite runners
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The Saratoga Palio: Melanie Merola ODonnell Memorial
[email protected]
www.thesaratogapalio.com
DATE:
8.28.13
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:Maria Palmer Maurer, Race
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
THE SARATOGA PALIO: Melanie Merola ODonnell Memorial Race
Half Marathon Wants Elite Runners
September 15, 2013
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, August 28, 2013 Attention elite runners!
We want you to
showcase your talent in the Capital Regions premier
halfmarathon, The Saratoga Palio. For the
third year in a row, The Melanie Foundation will award prize
money to the top 3 male and top 3
female finishers of the half marathon on Sunday, September
15.
The top male and female finishers will be awarded $500 for 1st
place, $250 for 2nd place,
and $100 for 3rd place. In addition, the cash winners will also
take home Smith Optics
sunglasses, as well as an assortment of Saratoga Palio race
gear. Those who have met the
following time standards in a half marathon since January 2012
will be awarded complimentary
entry: males, 1:14 or under/females, 1:23 or under.
With attendees from 2 countries, 20 states, and with an
anticipation of over 2200
participants for this years eighth annual race, The Saratoga
Palio has quickly become a regional
favorite since its inaugural race in 2006. The prize incentive
hopes to bring more elite runners to
this established event that they wont want to miss. Just as
Melanie challenged herself on a daily
basis, we encourage runners to challenge themselves in this race
, said Maria Palmer Maurer,
race director.
What began as an honor of the very generous and kindhearted
legacy of Melanie Merola
ODonnell has since become a scholarship fund that rewards
graduate-level students in the
mental health field that display the same characteristics as
Melanie. The Melanie Foundation
attempts to live up to Melanies legacy by awarding those who
show the potential to make a
difference in the world tomorrow, said Maurer.
7/30/2019 Saratoga Palio seeks elite runners
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The Saratoga Palio: Melanie Merola ODonnell Memorial
[email protected]
www.thesaratogapalio.com
The run is challenging, so those who are experienced, dont
expect it to be too easy! TheUSA Track & Field certified half
marathon route is a strenuous course with hills that takes
runners
through the beautiful and historic Saratoga Springs. Landmarks
include the Saratoga Spa State
Park, Skidmore College, downtown Broadway, Congress Park, and
more.
For more information, to volunteer, or to register for The
Saratoga Palio: Melanie Merola
ODonnell Memorial Race on September 15,
visitwww.thesaratogapalio.comand like us on
Facebook. Online registration ends September 11 at 10 PM.
In-person registration and packet
pickup will be held on September 14 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the
Hampton Inn.
The Saratogian is a key media sponsor.###
About Melanie Merola ODonnellMelanie Merola ODonnell lived an
inspirational life, and though it was cut short, it was
extremelyfull. Throughout her life, Melanie worked to help people
in need. She volunteered with, and laterbecame a staff member of,
the National Organization for Victim Assistance, and she was a
boardmember of the Capital Area Crisis Response Team (CACRT) for 8
years. She trained crisisresponders for both organizations until
2004. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11,2001, Melanie
coordinated and managed 28 crisis response teams in New York City
and 8 teamsin Washington. She also aided crisis responders in
Somerset County, PA, following the attacks.She spent several weeks
in New York City, helping grieving families who were visiting the
site ofthe attacks and coping with the aftermath. She provided care
to individuals affected by naturaldisasters, plane crashes, school
violence, the civil war in Sierra Leone, workplace violence,
andhomicide. In June 2004, she was honored by CACRT as the first
recipient of the Melanie MerolaODonnell Award for Excellence.At the
time of her death, she was enrolled in a doctoral programin
clinical psychology at Antioch University New England, in Keene,
NH. Amidst Melaniesprofessional responsibilities and
accomplishments, her devotion to her husband, son, mother,father,
sister, family, and friends was never compromised.
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