FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAKE PLANS NOW FOR THIRD ANNUAL FITNESS FESTIVAL

DANVILLE, VA June 5, 2007 -- Make plans now for the Third Annual Virginia Bank & Trust Running and Fitness Festival which will be held on Saturday, September 8.  The festival features the Danville Half-Marathon and 30th Annual River City 5k. Both races begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:15 a.m. with the half-marathon awards ceremony, located at the Crossing at the Dan, 629 Craighead Street in Danville.

All races are USA Track and Field (USATF) Sanctioned events. The half-marathon has a three-hour time limit and is restricted to 250 half-marathoners. Many runners from Danville, Pittsylvania County, Halifax County and other areas will also rejoice when they learn that this year’s new and improved Danville Half-Marathon course will be flat.

In addition to custom-made medallions, prizes will be awarded to the overall male and female winners of the half-marathon, along with 150 awards in the other races. Proceeds from the Danville Half-Marathon race will benefit the new Student Center at DCC and local high school cross-country runners.

Registration is underway now for both events. The registration fee for the half-marathon is $25, if paid prior to August 31 and $30 after that date. The entry fee for the River City 5k is $15 before race day and $18 for on-site registrations. Entry forms for all races are available on the DCC campus, on-line at www.active.com or by e-mail: vdecker@dcc.vccs.edu.

 “Registration is up significantly than last year at this time,” says Vince Decker, Associate Professor of Business Management and one of the race’s directors. “We’re expecting twice the turnout in the half-marathon than last year because of the new flat course and strong word-of-mouth from the first two years of events.”

According to Decker, nearly 300 runners participated in last year’s Danville Half-Marathon. He notes that many of the runners were from areas across the Commonwealth of Virginia and from North Carolina cities, such as Durham, Chapel Hill and Greensboro. The 2006 event also featured runners from Florida and New Hampshire.

The 2007 Danville Half-Marathon finisher’s medallion was designed by students in the DCC Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, and Engineering Technology programs. They were fabricated using DCC’s Selective Laser Sintering Rapid Prototyper and are exclusive for this event.

“You can’t find these awards anywhere else because Danville Community College students designed them,” Decker adds. “There are lots of runners who want these awards, but the medallions will only be awarded to those who finish the half-marathon.”

In addition to Virginia Bank & Trust, local sponsors of the Running & Fitness Festival are: Abercrombie Oil Co., Carter Craig, Commonwealth Pharmacy, Pete Castiglione, Danville Regional Health System, Halifax Regional Health System, Improved Order of Redmen, Karen’s Hallmark, Kelly Sales and Leasing, Dr. Harry Kolendrianos, Marriott Courtyard Danville, Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, Buddy Rawley, Robert Woodall Auto Mall, Scott & Stringfellow, Inc., Stratford Inn, University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies and Wilkins & Company Realtors.

According to Decker, other races and activities are being planned and will be announced later. For more information, please click here to visit the Web site, or contact one of the organizers: Vince Decker at 434.797.8470, John Wilt at 434.797.8468, or L.C. Moore at 434.793.3409, or toll free at 800.560.4291.