News
Contact: Micah Lacher
615-477-2155
mlacher@holrob.com
January 30, 2009
Team Chad Invites Runners and Walkers to Help Fight Leukemia
Runners and walkers invited to join in the Country Music Marathon or Half Marathon to support leukemia-related charities on April 25
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) – January 30, 2009 - Team Chad is now accepting participants to run or walk in the Country Music Marathon or Half Marathon and join their fight against leukemia on April 25, 2009. Team Chad, through the Chad Welch Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, raises money each year for leukemia and other cancer-related charities through several events, with the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon as the flagship event.
To participate, Team Chad ask runners and walkers to commit to raise $250 of support, which will benefit the Chad Welch Memorial Fund. To register to run/walk for Team Chad on April 25 and learn more about the group, visit www.teamchad.us.
Formed in 2007, Team Chad raises money in honor of Chad Welch, a Nashville native who lost his life on June 24, 2007 after a more than two-year battle with leukemia.
“Through the generous support of our sponsors and the fundraising efforts of 110 runners, we had great success with the Team Chad run in 2008, raising more than $47,000. We look forward to increasing awareness of leukemia and raising even more money this year to help fight the battle against cancer,” said Team Chad Chairman Whit Polley. “Chad and our memories of him are always near and dear to our hearts. We hope all of our family, friends and neighbors are able to come out and generate awareness, as well as fund research and patient care.”
This fundraiser includes a commemorative race shirt for every participant, a Team Chad wristband, a pre-race dinner, and a post-race party at a location to be determined. Team Chad is also recruiting corporate sponsors, whose names will be displayed on the back of the commemorative race shirt. Interested sponsors should contact, Micah Lacher, Vice Chairman, at 615-477-2155.
Each year, funds raised by the Chad Welch Memorial Fund are distributed to leukemia and other cancer-related charities. In 2008, the Fund distributed more than $25,000 to The Hematology Helping Hands Fund (HHHF) at the Vanderbilt University Hospital. The HHHF was created to provide patients with financial support during their battle with cancer. For stories of how Team Chad has helped, please visit www.teamchad.us and click on the “Funding Stories” link.
The Chad Welch Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee was founded in memory of Chad Welch. Although he only lived for a short 30 years, Chad maximized every moment and had an incredible passion for life. This passion was evident in the numerous people he touched, his enthusiasm for all things associated with football, especially Big Orange Football, his zeal for his Christian values, and his love for his wife and family.
During Chad’s two-year fight with AML leukemia, he also became passionate about the larger fight against leukemia. The Chad Welch Memorial Fund and Team Chad’s goal is to honor Chad’s life by following in his footsteps and continuing his fight.
Chad Welch Memorial
Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle
Tennessee
The Chad Welch Memorial Fund is a component
fund of The Community Foundation of Middle
Tennessee, which oversees more than 690 charitable
funds. In the past seventeen years, The Community
Foundation has distributed more than $408 million
to community programs and institutions. The
Community Foundation is located at 3833 Cleghorn
Avenue, # 400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215.
For more information, call 615-321-4939 or
visit www.cfmt.org.
The Chad Welch Memorial Fund’s annual fundraisers include: the Team Chad run at the County Music Marathon and Half Marathon; the Annual Chad Welch Memorial Tailgate, which is held before a University of Tennessee football game; and a Sip and Support Wine Event at Richland Country Club.
For more information about the Chad Welch Memorial Fund and to register to join Team Chad in the Country Music Marathon or Half Marathon, visit www.teamchad.us.
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