2001 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race Schedule Announced

Kids First Center chosen as youth beneficiary of fourth annual race

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - The Executive Committee of the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race has announced that next year's race will be held August 4, 2001 along the picturesque shores of Maine's rocky coast in Cape Elizabeth with a field size remaining at 4,000 runners.

As part of the bank's commitment to young people throughout the state, proceeds from next summer's race will benefit the Kids First Center, a Maine-based youth organization. The Kids First Center is a statewide program dedicated to supporting Maine parents and children who are going through the often-difficult transition of divorce or separation. The program offers parents practical information and helpful suggestions to help them focus on the needs of their children through the divorce process and afterwards as well. "I'm just thrilled to be a part of this world-renowned event," said Peg Libby, Executive Director of the Kids First Center. A minimum of $30,000 will be presented to the beneficiary.

This is the fourth year for the popular race, which last summer saw more than 3,400 finishers, elite athletes from all over the world, and the closest women's finish race ever. Three-time Beach to Beacon champion Catherine Ndereba barely edged 2000 U.S. Olympian Libbie Hickman. This year, race organizers are considering adding a finish-line camera in anticipation of future "photo finishes."

"The race has become a world-class event, thanks to the great volunteers, runners and elite athletes who come to Maine to compete," said Michael W. McNamara, president and CEO of Peoples Heritage Bank. "The organization we chose this year, Kids First, is providing a valuable and much-needed service to so many children throughout our state. So we're glad to be able to include them in our Peoples Promise: Shining the Light for Maine Youth program."

The Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K road race was founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, a 1984 Olympic gold medallist and two-time Boston Marathon champion from Maine. Samuelson serves as a spokesperson for the bank during the year to promote the race and the bank's "Peoples Promise" program, which benefits Maine youths with scholarships, sponsorship programs, and charitable gifts.

The Peoples Beach to Beacon race has quickly become a 'must' event on the schedules of many elite runners worldwide as well as top runners locally and across New England. The race director since its inception, Dave McGillivray, who also directs the Boston Marathon, recently won a national award from the Road Race Management Association for his direction of the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K.

"It's just been an outstanding effort on the part of the bank and the people of Maine to create this event, and we're also glad to be able to really help a youth organization each year," said Joan Benoit Samuelson.

Applications will be available in mid-April 2001 at any Peoples Heritage Bank branch in Maine, as well as online at the bank's website, www.peoplesheritage.com, or by calling 888-480-6940.

Peoples Heritage Bank is a Maine-based bank with more than 61 branches throughout the state, five of which operate as Oxford Bank & Trust, a division of the bank.

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