The Sedona Marathon enables selected charities to benefit from a portion of the proceeds of the event and from dedicated pledges made through the charity associated marathon participants.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nation's largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and providing patients and health-care professionals with critical information on the disease. LRF's mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. To date, LRF has funded $34.7 million in lymphoma research. More than 85 cents of every dollar spent goes to support research and programming. Visit the Lymphoma Research Foundation at Lymphoma.org to find out more about raising pledge dollars and running or walking for free in the the Sedona Marathon Event, or download the LRF volunteer form here.

Support the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) by running or walking in the February 7, 2009 Sedona Marathon! And pick your own course: 5K, half marathon or full marathon.

You walk or run for free as long as you raise pledges for the LRF. Adults are targeting $500 as a goal – in the first year of LRF association with the Sedona Marathon one enterprising soul raised $thousands in pledges !! Registration is at www.lymphoma.org/SedonaMarathon or use this form and fax to 928-203-4515.

Benefiting Community Organization - Sedona-Oak Creek School District

The Sedona Marathon recognizes the Sedona-Oak Creek School District for its dedication to our future through the children of our community. Selecting the District as a beneficiary of The Sedona Marathon enables the District to benefit as any other affiliated charity from fund-raising efforts through the marathon.

Support your schools by running or walking in the February 7, 2009 Sedona Marathon!  And pick your own course: 5K, half marathon or full marathon.

You walk or run for free as long as you raise pledges for the schools.  Kids under 18 can enter for free by raising a minimum of $50 and adults are encouraged to target $250 as a goal – in the first year one enterprising soul raised over $2000 in pledges for his first marathon ever!!  Pledge checks are made out to Sedona Oak Creek School District. Here is your complimentary entry form to fax in to 203-4515 in order to run for free, adults register here, kids register here.

If you would rather volunteer instead of walk or run in the event – that too is supporting the effort –  click here to fill out a volunteer form.

For questions regarding running for pledges or volunteering in the Sedona Marathon Event, contact West Sedona School's 2nd grade teacher Linda Spokes.

And as an initiative to encourage northern Arizona to get healthy, continuing the success of the original Biggest Loser campaign – the Sedona Marathon says “Off the Couch!” and make it a family affair!  Make it a tradition to train together on Monday nights at 5:30pm – come out to the Sedona Red Rock High School track and walk, run. You may even pick up training tips from health experts who may be there as well, getting ready for the Sedona Marathon Event, February 7, 2009.

Benefiting Community Organization - Sedona Charter School

The Sedona Charter Montessori School challenges each child to achieve excellence through an individualized program. It works to inspire a passion for learning, instill a sense of personal responsibility, and cultivate a respect for the environment and involvement in the community.

Thanks to the foresight and hard work of a determined team of parents and community volunteers, Sedona Charter School was founded in 1995 as the second charter contract issued in the state of Arizona. The SCS charter proposal was so well-conceived that it was approved quickly and unanimously by the State Board of Charter Schools. It was also distributed nationwide as a model for other new charter schools to follow

Better Than Ever (BTE) offers the community an opportunity to fight cancer two ways: prevention and research.

Prevention
Exercise has been proven to have numerous health benefits, including the reduction of breast, ovarian, and colon cancer. The BTE fitness training program is designed to help our community make walking, running, or biking a regular part of life.

Research
Continuous funds allow researchers to focus on making advancements in cancer treatment. Funds raised by BTE participants are awarded yearly to researchers at the Arizona Cancer Center to focus on women’s cancers.
Since its inception, BTE has distributed more than 1.5 million dollars in research grants, and encouraged more than 2,600 individuals to increase their fitness.

BTE provides a welcoming, non-competitive atmosphere for participants of all fitness levels, as well as the information necessary to begin and maintain an active lifestyle.
Resources include:

• Multiple weekly group training sessions
• Volunteer coaches to guide team members
• Training schedule and training packet
• Fundraising tips and suggestions
• Educational lectures and social events
• Weekly newsletters
• BTE shirt and finisher awards

In return for these resources, team members are asked to raise funds for the Arizona Cancer Center. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, ALL of the funds raised go to women’s cancer research and prevention at the Arizona Cancer Center. Gifts made to the Better Than Ever program are tax-deductible.

Better Than Ever is based in Tucson and will be working in the Sedona area to train team members for the 2009 Sedona Marathon Event.