The SunTrust Richmond Marathon is pleased to announce the addition of Donate Life as the official beneficiary of the event. The goal of Donate Life, a partnership of the non-profit agencies UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) and LifeNet, is to increase the number of lives saved through organ and tissue donation. The 26th running of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon will take place on November 15, 2003.

Donate Life, through educational efforts, encourages all Americans to say "yes" to organ and tissue donation and record a donation decision. One organ donor can save seven lives and one tissue donor can help more than fifty people. More than 82,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and seventeen people die each day waiting for a transplant that doesn't come in time. Anyone can make a difference by documenting a donation decision and talking to his or her family. Virginia residents can document a donation decision at www.save7lives.org.

"The SunTrust Richmond Marathon's commitment to increasing organ and tissue donation will result in saving more lives and we are a proud partner in this effort," said Helen Leslie, Executive Director of LifeNet.

As race beneficiary of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon (and its companion race, the NTELOS 8K), Donate Life will receive a portion of every race entry fee to support their educational efforts to help save lives through organ and tissue donation. Additional funds will be raised through the Donate Life Pledge Program, in which event participants are encouraged to raise money through pledges from friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors. Prizes will be awarded to fundraisers based on attaining certain funding levels.

Now celebrating its 26th anniversary, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon prides itself as "America's Friendliest Marathon." The race is organized by the Richmond Sports Backers and Richmond Road Runners Club who, since taking over management of the race in 1998, have seen its participant numbers surge from 474 in 1997 to 3,432 in 2002. Including the NTELOS 8K, total participation has grown to more than 6,200 runners.

"SunTrust Bank, through our sponsorship of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, is proud to aid the efforts of Donate Life to increase awareness of, and raise funds for, organ and tissue donation," said C. Michael Newbrand, director of Marketing, SunTrust Bank, Mid-Atlantic. "We believe in this cause and it is easy for everyone to get involved. We can all do our part in helping save seven lives. As further support, SunTrust Bank, Central Virginia, has joined the Workplace Partnership program to educate their employees about the importance of organ and tissue donation and save7lives.org"

"For many participants, training for and running a marathon has changed their lives," said Mike Logan, race director of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon. "Becoming an organ and tissue donor is about the gift of life--it is about making a difference. The new partnership between the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and Donate Life is one we're very excited about."

Anyone interested in learning more about UNOS and LifeNet can visit their Web sites at www.unos.org and www.lifenet.org. To learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to get involved at the local level, visit www.shareyourlife.org or www.save7lives.org. You can contact LifeNet at (800) 847-7831.

Media wishing more information can contact Scott Schricker of the SunTrust Richmond Marathon at (804) 285-9495.

And don't forget to visit the race Web site.