Team Odyssey ran in the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon while raising over $7000 in donations. Our goal this year is to raise over $8000. We are so excited to be invited to be an Associate Charity for the 2012 Dicks Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon as part of their Run for a Reason program!

Registration for the marathon will go through me as the Team Odyssey representative. I have a special code that I will put in for every runner I register which will give you and Team Odyssey the proper fundraising credit. Runners will need to give me their race registration info after it opens up at the end of August or early September. Team Odyssey will need 25 runners and 10 volunteers to fulfill our obligation as an Associate Charity. Runners will also need to fulfill their pledged fundraising amount. I'm going with the minimum required bib costs that the marathon recommended to me for this year. Half Marathon runners will be asked to fundraise $300, Full Marathon runners will be asked to fundraise $500 and Relay Teams will be asked to fundraise $750 as a collective group. 5k runners will be asked to fundraise $150. These fundraising amounts include your race registration, which is another reason why registration has to be done by me so that I can use my coupon code for you. Team Odyssey needs to raise $7000 as a team, but we raised more than that last year so I'm confident we will reach that goal easily. Last year, registration closed in March. The marathon people recommend that fundraisers try to fulfill their full fundraising pledge by March 1, 2012, so that I can be sure to get everyone registered. After registration closes to the public, it will only remain open to runners willing to make a pledge to fundraise for one of the charities.

For those people courageous enough to commit to train for running in a marathon event, along with fundraising for Team Odyssey, the following will be the benefits:

Team Odyssey race shirt
Team Odyssey wristband
Training opportunities and tips to help get you to the finish line.
E-newsletter and updates
Personal fundraising website through Active.com
Fundraising packet with tips and tools to help you reach your goal.
Fundraising incentives.
Opporunity to obtain membership to Steel City Runners Club
Guaranteed registration for the marathon event that you choose once you've reached 75% of your fundraising goal.
Support of an entire team before, on and after race day
Satisfaction in knowing that your fundraising efforts may save a child and family from the horrors of neuroblastoma.
Pre-race pasta party
Post race celebration

For more information about Team Odyssey, click here to view our website or to sign up as a runner email your name and contact info to Laura Boyd at teamodyssey@rocketmail.com