Charles River Race Ideal for Corporate Team-Building Businesses and Organizations Invited to Send Teams to Charles River Watershed Association’s Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race WALTHAM, MA—January 4, 2007—The 25th Anniversary Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race, scheduled for Sunday, April 29, 2007, is a fun way for companies and groups to foster greater community spirit while supporting the Charles River Watershed Association, the non-profit organization responsible for the river’s restoration. For twenty-five years, teams have embraced this springtime Run of the Charles event. Early registrations are discounted, with early registration ending February 15, 2007. So grab your teammates and sign up now. There are over a 1000 paddlers who are part of corporate and group teams, and an additional 500 individuals participating in the general races. Businesses and organizations are invited to form teams for the corporate relay event. No previous experience is necessary and participation helps build camaraderie and team skills with office colleagues. Racers and co-workers can also enjoy a picnic in the park at the race’s Finish Line Festival and help celebrate one of the gems of our urban environment. The Charles River Watershed Association initiated this race to celebrate its work in cleaning up the Charles River. For over forty years CRWA has been the leader in protecting and preserving all 80 miles of the river and the thirty-five towns in the watershed. CRWA blends science, advocacy and legal expertise to develop real solutions to environmental problems. Because of CRWA’s efforts, herons and herring are now repopulating the river and its shores, the Zakim Bridge stands as a new Boston landmark, and new development is being planned with the river’s best interest in mind. “Many companies use the Run of the Charles relay race as a fun team-building exercise for their employees, and then finish the day with a company-wide picnic at the race’s Finish Line Festival,” said CRWA Executive Director Robert Zimmerman. “NSTAR Energy Services, for example, has fielded teams from many of its local offices who compete against each other for bragging rights and company prizes. They tie it all together with a huge party at the Finish Line Festival, making it a spectacular day for team spirit. And when you think about the pre-race planning plus the reliving of the experience after the fact, it really impacts company unity and attitude for about three months. We have several companies who swear by it!” The region’s engineering, law, and consulting firms are represented every year in the corporate relay race at the Run of the Charles. Local colleges, government agencies and neighborhood groups compete in their own relay divisions. The Run of the Charles offers races for everyone. Elite paddlers from across North America compete in the 26-Mile Professional Flatwater Canoe Marathon which awards $5000 prize money. Shorter-distance canoe and kayak races are also popular, including the 19-mile, 9-mile, and 6-mile races. The 6-mile race hosts the broadest range of experience, with Juniors age 12 and up racing alongside Seniors in their 60s and 70s. The Run of the Charles gives competitors the opportunity to paddle through varieties of water, from suburban countryside to Boston’s famous urban river park. Besides being a venue of the Cambridge Science Festival “Science in the City,” the 2007 Run of the Charles will also host hourly Eco-Boat river boat trips for families on the river during the race. All the races finish at the Finish Line Festival at Herter Park on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. All are welcome to join racers and celebrate Boston’s Charles River at the Finish Line Festival featuring food, music, awards, outdoor sports demonstrations, and post-race picnics, no admission is charged. The Charles River Watershed Association is a non-profit organization committed to protecting and enhancing the health, beauty and accessibility of the Charles River and its tributaries and watersheds. Every government and private stakeholder in the watershed knows CRWA’s advocacy for environmental protection. The Run of the Charles brings greater public awareness to the Charles River as it offers corporations time to reflect on the importance of the Charles as an urban and rural landmark. The Saturday before this year’s race on April 21, CRWA is hosting its annual 80 mile river clean-up. This is another opportunity to join others along the river. Throughout the year, CRWA monitors the river with a corps of over 200 volunteers. This program began in 1994 and has progressed with more sophisticated sampling and hotspot identification. Locating and stopping pollution inflows is one way in which CRWA is making the river cleaner. Since 1965, CRWA’s prominent role in cleaning up the river has influenced government policy, developed river water monitoring protocols, fought to uphold water use rulings, studied and protected river plant and wildlife and educated public officials, community groups and legislators on best practices in protecting watersheds. CRWA welcomes sponsorships for Run of the Charles. For more information on sponsorship, registration or any other aspect of the race, please call (508) 698-6810, e-mail rotc@crwa.org or visit www.charlesriver.org. |