News Releases

Hit the road for a good cause at the 35th annual Harrisdirect Seattle Marathon

• Up to 15,000 athletes expected to participate in this year's events, breaking last year's record
• Proceeds to support Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Puget Sound; over $100,000 raised in past two years

SEATTLE, November 16, 2004 - This year celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Harrisdirect Seattle Marathon is a local tradition and celebratio n that closes the Thanksgiving weekend and kicks off the holiday season. Festivities begin Friday, November 26th with the two-day Health and Fitness Expo featuring numerous giveaways, attractions and promotional sales from such sponsors as ASICS, local sporting goods stores and more.

There are many ways to participate depending on your individual level of fitness, including the 26.2 mile run - which is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and now among the top 20 marathons in the U.S. - a half-marathon run and walk, full marathon walk and the Seattle Kids Marathon, which is sponsored by include Washington Athletic Club and Jon A. Dallman D.D.S., M.S., P.S. Because of the popularity of the kids' event – nearly 2,500 are expected to participate this year - the race has its own day and will be held Saturday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. As in years past, the full-marathon will be held Sunday, Nov. 28, beginning at 8:15 a.m.

For complete event information, including registration, expo schedules and event start-times, please visit www.seattlemarathon.org. 

The Seattle Marathon has come a long way since it was first run in 1970. That year, 38 runners signed up for the event at a cost of 50 cents each - 21 finished the race. This year, planners anticipate up to 15,000 participating athletes, which would eclipse last year's record of 12,000. In addition, an estimated 35,000 fans are expected to line the streets to cheer the athletes as they negotiate the course, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful – and challenging – among the major marathon events on the calendar.

For the fourth consecutive year, the marathon committee has selected the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Puget Sound (Candlelighters of Puget Sound) as the event's beneficiary. Event proceeds go dire ctly to the organization to help children and families fighting cancer.

In addition, to complement its title sponsorship of the Seattle Marathon, Harrisdirect and Harris have announced that for the third year in a row, they will match all contributions made to the Candlelighters of Puget Sound (up to $10,000) between now and race-day on Nov. 28.

In the past two years, Harrisdirect and the Seattle Marathon Association have raised over $100,000 for the Candlelighters, which has helped support over 2,000 area children and families confronting the devastating illness.

Contributing is easy through the marathon website - www.seattlemarathon.org.  All contributions to the Candlelighters are tax-deductible.

Candlelighters of Puget Sound:
The Candlelighters of Puget Sound is an all-volunteer non-profit foundation run primarily by individuals who have been affected by cancer and parents or relatives of children diagnosed with cancer. Its mission is to educate, serve and advocate for children with cancer, their families, survivors of childhood cancer and the professionals who care for them.

The Puget Sound chapter is recognized by the US Government as a 501(c)(3); IRS Tax ID#: 91-2171599.

The Candlelighters of Puget Sound is a chapter of the National Candlelighters organization, which has over 43,000 members and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. While Candlelighters of Puget Sound is affiliated with the National organization, it does not receive funding from the parent foundation, nor does it receive funding from any hospitals or government-run facilities.

For additional information on the Candlelighters of Puget Sound and the National Candlelighters organization, please visit www.candlelightersps.org.

Harris direct
Harrisdirect is a leading provider of direct investing and advisory services to informed investors with long-term financial goals, as well as third-party brokerage services for institutions, including many of the nation's largest 401(k) plan providers. Harrisdirect is part of Harris, an integrated financial service organization that provides more than 1.5 million personal, business, corporate and institutional clients with banking, lending, investing, financial planning, trust administration, portfolio management, family office and wealth transfer services. Harris is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO). For more information, please visit www.harrisdirect.com or www.harrisbank.com .

Harris is a trademark used by various financial service providers in the BMO Financial Group, a marketing name used by Bank of Montreal. Banking products and services are provided by Harris N.A. and The Harris Bank N.A. Members FDIC. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc (HBIS). Securities are provided by Harris Nesbitt Corp (HNC), a registered broker dealer, member NYSE, FINRA and SIPC and Harrisdirect LLC, a registered broker dealer, member FINRA and SIPC. HBIS, HNC and Harrisdirect are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Products offered by HBIS, HNC and Harrisdirectare Not Insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by Any Bank or Bank Affiliate, May Lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition on any bank loan or service. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc., an SEC registered investment advisor. Family office services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are also offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

MarathonRun, Half MarathonRun, MarathonWalk, Half MarathonWalk

Date: Sunday, November 28, 2004
Start: Corner of 5th Avenue and Harrison, East of Experience Music Project
Times:
Marathon Walk – 7:15 a.m.
Half Marathon Run – 7:30 a.m.
Half Marathon Walk – 7:45 a.m.
Marathon Run – 8:15 a.m.

Kids Marathon

Date: Saturday, November 27, 2004
Start: 5th Avenueand Republican
Time: 10 a.m.

Schedule of other events (Westin Seattle)

Friday, November 26 – Packet pick-up – noon – 8 p.m.
Friday, November 26 – EXPO – noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 27 – Packet pick-up – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 27 – EXPO – 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 27 – Bus Tour of course – 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 27 – Carbo Load dinner – 6 p.m.

Last minute registration

Friday & Saturday, November 26-28 – Westin Seattle
MarathonRun/Walk - $95
Half MarathonRun/Walk - $75
Kids Marathon- $10 (Late registration on Friday only)
Note: There may be lines for late registration
No bib and chip pick-up on race day
No registration or changing of races on race day

Title Sponsor – Harrisdirect

KJids Marathonsponsor – Washington Athletic Club and Dr. Jon Dallman D.D.S., M.S., P.S.

Beneficiary – The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Puget Sound