Local SUBWAY® restaurant sponsors Erie Marathon at Presque Isle

ERIE, Pa. — Erie SUBWAY® franchisee Liz Brown is not a runner – but her brother is. His membership in the Erie Runners Club led to Brown’s sponsorship of the area’s 34-year-old Erie Marathon at Presque Isle. For a fourth year, Brown will supply healthy meals for the post-race celebration, as well as items to include in racer gift bags – a donation totaling more than $6,000.

Marathon organizers expect more than 900 runners and 200 volunteers from 38 states, Canada and Germany at this year’s race. Participants will convene on Sept. 9 at Presque Isle State Park, where runners will compete in either a full USATF-certified marathon or a half marathon run, both starting at 7 a.m., or a 5K run, beginning at 7:15 a.m.

“We are proud to sponsor this well-known community event that fits Subway’s philosophy of healthy eating and staying fit,” stated Brown. “But, it’s more than that – the event also teaches my employees about the importance of volunteering.”

While the race food will be prepared at Brown’s SUBWAY® store on 1501 East 38th St., employees at her other two locations – inside Millcreek Mall and at the Wal-Mart on East 26th Street and Elm Street – also volunteer time to help with the race.

Three weeks prior to the marathon, Brown’s employees begin wearing special t-shirts to promote the race. About 20 of her employees volunteer during the event, including baking fresh bread and cookies, handing out coffee and food, and dressing as the SUBWAY® mascot, Subman, to entertain race fans. Brown estimates her employees will give approximately 170 hours of their time to help with the event.

Brown added, “The marathon also allows us to help give back to the community, which is just a great feeling overall – and it spreads. When we told our coffee supplier, Premium Coffee, about what we were doing they donated a case of coffee and equipment to use at the race.”

While the Erie Marathon at Presque Isle is not a fundraiser, event organizers contribute to at least one community organization each year. “We use entry fees to pay for the runners’ awards, gift bags and supplies,” stated Jan Comi, marathon organizer. “The remaining money, as well as sponsor money and donations from race fans, is given to a community group.”

Online and mail-in registration for the marathon will be open until Sept. 1. Runners can register online at www.marathonguide.com. On-site registration will also be available at Presque Isle State Park on Sept. 8, the day before the race.

For more information on the marathon, or to learn how to become a race volunteer, e-mail eriemara@yahoo.com or visit the Erie Runners Club Web site at www.erie-runnersclub.org.

For more information regarding SUBWAY® and their sponsorship of the Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, please contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.

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About SUBWAY® Restaurants
With more than 27,000 locations in 86 countries, the SUBWAY® Restaurant chain is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise. In 2002, the SUBWAY® chain surpassed McDonald’s in the number of restaurants open in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Milford, Conn., the SUBWAY® Restaurant chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. The SUBWAY® chain was ranked the number one franchise opportunity in Entrepreneur magazine’s Annual Franchise 500 ranking for 2007. This marks the 15th time in 20 years that SUBWAY® Restaurants has received this distinction. For more information on SUBWAY® Restaurants, please visit www.subwayfreshbuzz.com.