All-new 2011 Dodge Durango and 2011 Dodge Charger are official pace vehicles
Money donated to charities for vehicle test drives
Challenged Athletes Foundation champion athletes Sarah Reinertsen and Scout Bassett sign autographs at the Dodge Course Preview Area
December 8, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Dodge brand is going the distance as the title sponsor and “Official Automotive Partner” of the inaugural “Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon.”
A Dodge running team of area employee and dealer volunteers will lace up their running shoes and participate in the half marathon on Sunday, Dec. 11. In addition, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango and 2011 Dodge Charger will lead the way for thousands of runners as the official pace vehicles.
“Dodge is an American brand with American values, and we are committed to giving back into the communities where our customers work and live,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Dodge Brand. “The brand’s sponsorship of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series provides an opportunity to be involved at a grassroots level and gives our team the chance to travel to communities around the country, connecting with the more than one million people who are involved with the races.”
The Dodge brand is sponsoring additional activities during the Dec. 10 – 11 race weekend.
Marathon runners and attendees will have the opportunity to win prizes and be fully immersed in the Dodge brand experience throughout the event’s two-day Health & Fitness Expo held at Lummus Park on South Beach, Sat. Dec. 10, and Sun, Dec. 11. The 2011 Dodge Durango, Charger, and Journey will be available to test drive outside the expo. In addition, race fans can check out and test drive the new 2012 Fiat 500. Dodge will make a $20 donation for each test drive to the participant’s charity of choice.
Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) marathon and triathlon athletes Sarah Reinertsen and Scout Bassett will sign autographs at the Dodge Course Preview Area inside the expo, Saturday from 12 – 4 p.m. Reinertsen and Bassett have a prosthetic leg. Reinertsen is the first women on a prosthetic leg to finish the Ironman World Championship and has raced around the world on CBS’ “The Amazing Race” reality TV series. With the help of CAF, family and friends, Bassett actively competes in triathlons around the world. In 2008 and 2010, she won silver medals in the International Triathlon World Championships.
The Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon is one of the final event this year in the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. The series of marathons and half marathons combine entertainment and running in a unique way. Bands stationed at every mile of the race keep runners and walkers energized, engaged and entertained. With more than 300,000 runners participating at 18 events across the nation, it is the largest and most widely attended marathon series in the world. Throughout its 14-year history, the Rock ‘n‘ Roll Marathon Series has raised more than $247 million for various charities. So far this year, Dodge has helped racers donate almost $80,000 to their charities of choice, and the effort continues.
The Dodge brand kicked off its 2011 partnership with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series in January with the “P.F.Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and Half Marathon.” In addition to being the “Official Automotive Partner” and “Official Vehicle” of this year’s races, Dodge serves as the title sponsor of six marathons in 2011, including races in San Diego, Seattle, Virginia Beach, San Jose, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
