The first-ever Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month marked the recent finish of its successful, month-long celebration with a donation of $50,000 to its charity partner, Team Fox.  Together, Dick's Sporting Goods and Team Fox have worked to promote running this spring while helping raise awareness and funds to find a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month started May 1 and included major sponsorship of ten premiere running events across the country, including the following:

  • Alexandria Running Festival
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon
  • Chuy's Hot to Trot 5K
  • Palos Verdes Marathon
  • Strawberry Festival
  • Brentwood 10K
  • Stillwater Marathon
  • Ridge Run 10K
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder
  • Starlight Run

All told, the ten Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month events boasted approximately 75,000 registered runners, and many events quickly reached full capacity highlighting running and road racing's robust growth.

All registered runners at Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month events received a $10 gift certificate with no-minimum purchase valid at any Dick's Sporting Goods store.  Promotion of Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month also included a national network television advertising campaign. “Deals of the Week” on running gear and a Facebook contest helped spur high web-traffic on Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month's website and social media hub, www.nationalrunnersmonth.com.

Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month also launched the RunnersUnite! iPhone app, a well-received tool that helps runners connect with each other and find nearby running routes.  To date, nearly 35,000 people have downloaded the application.

Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month ambassadors Dean Karnazes and Bart Yasso whipped up excitement by hosting group runs and sharing their experiences and expertise with runners at store events in Los Angeles and Boston.  An interview with Bart Yasso at one of the store events can be watched here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkBNqWIv3Q.

“Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month was a resounding success,” said Jeff Hennion, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Dick's Sporting Goods.  “We'd like to give special thanks to Team Fox,” said Hennion.  “Through their vast athlete network and outreach, Team Fox did a fantastic job helping us energize runners this May,” said Hennion.  “We've enjoyed working with Team Fox to further their mission to find a cure for Parkinson's disease,” said Hennion.  “On behalf of Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month, it was an honor to present Team Fox with a check for $50,000,” said Hennion.

“We are deeply grateful for the commitment of Dick's Sporting Goods to furthering critical research for Parkinson's disease,” said Katie Hood, CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.  “Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month and all of the Team Fox members who participated in the events this spring have helped us raise awareness of Parkinson's disease while inspiring countless athletes across the country to join the fight against the disease,” said Hood.