Bragging Rights at Stake in Corporate Challenge at Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

Teams of four or more from area businesses to contend for Corporate Challenge Cup

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - Corporations looking to compete in more than the marketplace can sign up for this summer's Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in Cape Elizabeth.

Now in its second year, the race's Corporate Challenge, sponsored by UnumProvident, is expected to attract nearly twice as many teams competing for a Corporate Challenge Cup - and bragging rights - at the August 2 event in Cape Elizabeth. The challenge is divided into three divisions: women only, men only, and mixed.

"The Corporate Challenge has added an extra layer of excitement to the Peoples Beach to Beacon," said David Weatherbie, the race president. "Last year, we saw 18 companies compete and I expect all those teams to return plus more than a dozen new ones. Interest is really growing in this event. We're going to have more than 400 runners in the field this year competing for their employer."

Winners in 2002 included Bath Iron Works in the men's division; Maine Medical Center in the women's division; and UnumProvident in the mixed division.

The challenge pits teams of at least four employees from valid corporations and partnerships throughout New England. The teams will be scored using net times and will be adjusted by age and gender under the WAVA (World Association of Veteran Athletes) system. The top four runners count toward the overall score, and there is no limit to the number of runners who can be entered on a team.

Awards are presented to the individuals scoring for the top three teams in each classification. The winning teams also receive the coveted Corporate Challenge Cup for display at their organizations.

For more information, visit the race website at www.beach2beacon.org, call the 24-hour Race Hotline at 1-888-480-6940 or email beach2beacon@banknorth.com.

Anyone interested in organizing a team is encouraged to act quickly to ensure a spot at the starting line for the popular international event on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The field for this year's race will remain at 5,000 runners. Already, more than 4,000 runners have registered either online or by mail, ahead of last year's pace when the race filled before the end of June. Race applications are available statewide in the more than 60 branches of Peoples Heritage Bank.

Peoples is the lead sponsor of the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic gold medalist from Maine who also serves as a spokesperson for the Peoples Promise Program for youth in Maine. Other major corporate partners this year include Nike, UnumProvident Corp., Poland Spring, Hannaford and WCSH TV-6.

Now in its sixth year, the Peoples Beach to Beacon begins at Crescent Beach along Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth and ends 6.2 miles later at the Portland Head lighthouse at Fort Williams Park. The race draws the world's top elite runners and the best in New England.

The youth organization chosen by the bank this year to be the race beneficiary is Seeds of Peace, a group that promotes tolerance and understanding among youth around the world. Peoples will provide a cash donation of $30,000 from race proceeds, and Seeds of Peace will further benefit from fundraising opportunities and publicity valued at more than $40,000.

The beneficiary last year was Opportunity Farm, a long-term, family-style, residential facility in rural New Gloucester for at-risk Maine youth. The other previous beneficiaries were the Kids First Center, Turning Point Farm, Camp Sunshine and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

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