Philadelphia Celebrates Earth Day With 35th Anniversary of Clean Air Council's Run for Clean Air Presented by Toyota Hybrids

"During the 35 years it has existed, the Run for Clean Air has grown and become a significant source of funds to support the Council's mission to protect everyone's right to breathe clean air," said Clean Air Council's Executive Director Joseph Otis Minott, Esq. "2016 marks the largest group of registrants the race has seen. We are ecstatic to welcome close to 2,500 runners. The Run for Clean Air is a true Earth Day community event. The Council thanks our partners and sponsors like Toyota Hybrids who provide not only financial, but logistical support, and who help the Council increase public awareness of air pollution.  Strong support from businesses, organizations, and individuals demonstrates how important clean air and a healthy environment are to people in our region."

The Run for Clean Air started as a small race in Wissahickon with just over 100 runners, and now sees thousands of runners and walkers of all ages. Over 50,000 people have participated in the Clean Air Council's Run for Clean Air, making it the largest celebration of its kind in the Greater Philadelphia area and a favorite local charity event. The Run supports the Council's mission to protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air.

Over the Run's 35 years, while the number of participants has expanded, so has the number of race options. This year the Run for Clean Air will feature:

• 5K Run: A flat, fast, scenic course along MLK Drive (starts 7:45am)
• PHLY 10K Run presented by Philadelphia Insurance Company: A more-challenging longer distance run and a perfect training race for the Broad Street Run (starts 7:30am)
• 3K Walk: A fun and spirited stroll to celebrate Earth Day (starts 7:45am)
• Kids Fun Run: A 1/2 mile fun run for ages 6 - 12 and 250 yard dash for ages 5 and under (starts 9:30am)

All races starts and finishes takes place in Eakins Oval and in the area immediately in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Race courses go out and back on Martin Luther King Drive.

Before the Run, participants are invited to a pre-run yoga stretch sponsored by Lululemon and lead by local yoga instructors.  After the Run, participants will enjoy:

• A free post-race local sustainably-brewed beer for all finishers 21 & +, or a free cold-brewed coffee from Joe Coffee
• Eco-friendly race swag, including  eco-friendly race tees made from recycled cotton, race bag, shoelaces, water bottle, sunglasses
• Local and organic food to refuel after your run including organic bananas, oranges, and granola bars from MOM's Organic Market
• Lululemon Athletica Philadelphia with a personalized post-race yoga experience! Local yoga teachers will be on hand to lead and assist you in a short sequence of poses that will aid in cooling down, stretching, and recovery

Other Earth Day festivities at the end of the run will include:

• PECO Smart Ideas with 150 LED light bulb packets to the first 150 visitors
• Wrapped SEPTA hybrid bus, SEPTA games with prizes and free shoelaces
• Wrapped hybrid pace cars from Toyota
• Angry Birds Movie with interactive games with plush Angry Birds giveaways
• Two of a Kind kids' band with live music
• Environmental education exhibits
• Solar powered generator

Staying true to the Clean Air Council's mission, the Run for Clean Air and Earth Day celebration is a green event. This year, the EPA Region 3 is recognizing the Run for Clean Air for efforts to reduce waste, provide eco-friendly materials, and educate participants. Among those measures, all shirts are made from recycled material, waste from the race is recycled and composted, the entire event is powered by solar energy, and Toyota Hybrids will provide hybrid cars for use as pace vehicles. As an added new bonus, each finisher will receive an eco-friendly medal, which also functions as a reusable tool!

Clean Air Council's Run for Clean Air is presented by Toyota Hybrids. See the full lineup of Toyota Hybrids on-site at the Run for Clean Air.  "Toyota and the Tri-State Toyota Dealers are very proud to be the Presenting Sponsor, a 2nd year in a row, for the 35th annual Run for Clean Air," said President of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association Paul Muller. "With Toyota's ongoing commitment to the development of vehicles that help reduce carbon emissions in addition to being at the forefront of alternative fuel leadership, we are thrilled to once again support the Clean Air Council and this year's Run for Clean Air."

"Toyota is committed to helping play a role in delivering cleaner air and environmental sustainability to our customers.  With a portfolio of eight Toyota hybrid models (soon to be nine), we are the leader in hybrid vehicles and have selection of hybrid sedans and SUV models to fit our customers' diversified needs – including the newest edition to our hybrid line-up, the RAV4 Hybrid, which will be onsite for runners to come take a seat and check out in this year's Toyota Hybrid display at the post-run Earth Day Celebration at the base of the iconic Art Museum steps," added Muller.

The Run for Clean Air also partners with Philadelphia Insurance Companies – the sponsor of the PHLY 10K Run, MOM's Organic Market, PECO Smart Ideas, SEPTA, PGW, Air Quality Partnership, Johnson Matthey, Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP, Amtrak, Lululemon, CBS Radio, and Zipcar.

Clean Air Council is a member- supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air. For more information about Clean Air Council, visit www.cleanair.org. For more about the run, visit www.runforcleanair.com.  

PHOTOS: http://bit.ly/runforcleanair2016images

CLEAN AIR COUNCIL
KATIE EDWARDS
[email protected]

CONTACT:
KORY AVERSA:
[email protected]
215-840-9216

AMANDA MUELLER
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160415/355854

SOURCE Clean Air Council

Related Links

cleanair.org