NEW YORK CITY, NY - The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon has named New York state's McIntosh apples the official apple of the event. As official sponsors of this marathon, which helps racers raise money for great causes, the New York Apple Association will be donating 88,440 McIntosh apples to the event. These apples will also go to help fuel racers at the Poland Spring Marathon Kick-off on October 26th, the NYRR Run With Champions on October 30th, and the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K and the Marathon Eve Dinner on November 1st.
“Apples are great for refueling after a run or other exercise, and McIntosh is probably our best-known homegrown variety,” NYAA President Jim Allen explained. “McIntosh and the Marathon go together like hand and glove, or let’s say foot and running shoe. This is a win-win-win situation for everybody – we get to give back to our community, support a healthy event and talk up our state’s great apples at the same time."
Throughout the marathon, the NYAA will be encouraging attendees to “Munch a McIntosh” through advertising in the race's runners handbook, check-in goodie bag, event program and race results edition.
According to a press release, the NYAA will be fielding a team of 15 sponsored runners, including:
- Rochester firefighters Ted Kuppinger and Thomas Szatko
- New York State Troopers Steve Mowers and Jason Mulcahy
- Walter Campo of Nicholas Markets Foodtown in Hawthorne, N.J.
- Tenley Allen and Rob Ranieri of Fresh Direct in Long Island City
- Robert Guenther of United Fresh Produce Association of Washington, D.C.
These runners will be racing for a variety of important charities, including:
- Local, regional and national food banks
- A local animal shelter and a humane society
- New York's Special Olympics organization
- Local and international health causes
- A group fighting for international ocean conservation
“Our civic-minded runners have committed to raising charitable funds as part of their marathon participation, and they have selected a broad range of causes that are worthy of support,” Jim shared.
NYAA's sponsored runners have in fact already raised $7,824. The organization, which has been a proud sponosor of the marathon since 1998, has itself sponsored an impressive 146 runners from 1998-2003.
It's great to see the NYAA get behind such a great event. This is clearly an organization which understands the importance of giving back to the community.
