For Immediate Release: Â November 28, 2016
Contact:  Nicola Beddow  (786)493-6077 / ABC2 / [email protected]
Endurance Athlete Living With Brain Cancer to Compete in
World Marathon Challenge to Raise $1 Million for Research
BethAnn Telford to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents in Seven Days
November 28, 2016 (Washington, DC) â BethAnn Telford, an endurance athlete living with brain cancer, will compete in the 2017 World Marathon Challenge to raise $1 million for brain cancer research supported by ABC2 (Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure). Â From January 23 -29, 2017, Telford will run seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days. To date, she is the only American woman competing in the 2017 event.
Since her diagnosis, Telford has helped raise more than $835,000 for brain cancer research. With her participation in the World Marathon Challenge, she hopes to hit the $1,000,000 milestone. Telford is seeking pledge donations for all 183.4 miles she runs in the event. Donations and sponsorship of her research fundraising campaign can be made at www.btwmc.org.
All pledgers will receive a pair of #Selfeet to Defeat Brain Cancer Shoelaces. Pledgers can help raise awareness of brain cancer and the need for more research funding by posting pictures of their #Selfeet shoelaces on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using #Selfeet. Telford will also be raising awareness by wearing hand-designed New Balance shoes dedicated to 14 brain cancer survivors living in different areas around the world.
The donations will support ABC², a Washington DC-based venture philanthropy nonprofit organization that drives cutting-edge research and treatments for brain cancer and brain tumors.  âBethAnn inspires our global community with her fearless determination and ânever give upâ attitude,â said Max Wallace, CEO of ABC2. âThe money she raises helps us invest in research aimed at finding the fastest possible route to a cure.â
Beginning six weeks after her first brain surgery in 2005, Telford has used her abilities as an endurance athlete to help bring awareness to the critical need for brain cancer research funding. While in continuous treatment for her brain cancer, she has finished the Boston Marathon four times, Marine Corps Marathon annually, the Lake Placid Ironman twice, and the Kona Ironman World Championships in 2012. Her most recent endeavor was Crossing the Canyon, a 9-hour rim-to-rim trek of more than 20 miles over the rough terrain of the Grand Canyon on behalf of ABC2.
Telford has been training for the World Marathon Challenge for more than a year. She typically works out three hours a day by doing a variety of running, strength and core exercise routines. Her yoga training is sponsored by CorePower Yoga. Â Other notable 2017 World Marathon Challenge competitors include: Ryan Hall, U.S. Olympic marathoner; Petr Vabrousek, 32-time Ironman distance race champion from the Czech Republic; and Luke Wigman, a former British soldier who was badly injured in Afghanistan.
The tentative event schedule:
Jan. 23 â Marathon in Antarctica
Jan. 24 â Marathon in Punta Arenas, Chile
Jan. 25 â Marathon in Miami
Jan. 26 â Marathon in Madrid
Jan. 27 â Marathon in Marrakech
Jan. 28 â Marathon in Dubai
Jan. 29 â Marathon in Sydney
About ABC² (Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure)
ABC² is focused on speeding the discovery of a cure for brain cancer. By applying an aggressive, venture funding approach not typically seen in the nonprofit sector, ABC² closes the current gaps in funding in order to catalyze research and rapidly bring new therapies to patients. ABC² has awarded more than 100 grants totaling $20 million in brain tumor research funding to highly qualified investigators and physician-scientists from 54 institutions and companies. To learn more, visit www.abc2.org.
