Wheelchair Athletes of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon Set to Depart on Schedule at 10 a.m. Eastern, Saturday Sept. 10 in Niagara Falls Ontario to Queens Park in Toronto

Starting tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 10, 5 wheelchair athletes will commence their 5 day / 212 km marathon from Niagara Falls, Ontario to Queens Park in Toronto to raise money and awareness for Spinal Regeneration Research.

Hamilton, Ontario (PRWEB) September 11, 2005 -- Since the year 1999, the Golden Horseshoe Marathon has raised funds to support various organizations. This year their goal this year is to raise $500,000 for Spinal Cord Regeneration Research.

Researchers like Dr. M Rathbone and his associates at Hamilton's McMaster University are close to a very important breakthrough in stem cell research. Using stem cells from the bowel, and stimulating the bodies own stem cells they are stimulating the recovery of the nervous system.

However, in order to fund the progress of Spinal Regeneration Research, the Golden Horseshoe Marathon is at it again, raising money for the benefit of the community and people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological diseases to gain independence.

Throughout the 5 day/ 212 km Marathon, members of the community will be able to show their support by cheering the athletes and making donations as the members of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon wheel their way through the various Ontario communities which are along the Marathon's route.

The athletes will be starting their marathon at the intersection of Fallsview Blvd and Livingston Street in Niagara Falls, and will be making themselves available to the media from 9 am -- 10 am, Saturday morning at the starting line of the event.

For your convenience, I have enclosed the first day route and will be providing media updates on a daily basis.

Day 1- Saturday September 10, 2005: Start- 10:00am Niagara Falls - Fallsview Blvd & Livingstone St. Travel on Fallsview Blvd, R on Victoria Ave, L on River Rd which turns into Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-¬Lake. Lunch stop at McFarlane House (22.Skm) Follow Niagara Parkway onto Queen's Parade then Picton St and Queen St turn L on Mississauga St, R on Mary St which becomes Lakeshore Rd, L on East West Line, R on Four Mile Creek Rd, R on Penner St, L on Concession 6 Rd, L on Niagara Stone Rd to Virgil Town Hall - Stop at approx 3:30pm Total 42.8 km

Hourly cut-ins will be available through the TalkStar Radio Network over the five day event at the following times:

10:05:00 -- 10:06:00 am
11:05:00 -- 11:06:00 am
12:05:00 -- 12:06:00 pm
01:05:00 -- 01:06:00 pm
02:05:00 -- 02:06:00 pm
03:05:00 -- 03:06:00 pm
04:05:00 -- 04:06:00 pm

Members of the media wishing to pick up the feed are invited to contact Ed Shifflet, chief engineer of the TalkStar Radio Network (386) 397-4155 for Galaxy 4R and Telstar 7 coordinates and technical inquiries. The feed will also be available on talkstarradio.com streaming audio at www.talkstarradio.com.

Members of the media can contact me throughout the 5 day marathon for live updates or interviews as I will be traveling with the marathon. My cell number is (905) 537-1952.

For information on the Golden Horseshoe Marathon, the athletes and making an online donation to McMaster University, please visit www.goldenhorseshoemarathon.org .

Your time and consideration in the marathon and what this valuable research will mean to people around the world suffering from spinal cord injuries and neurological diseases is sincerely appreciated by all involved with the Golden Horseshoe Marathon, the medical researchers and those who dream of walking again.

I am including the complete Golden Horseshoe Marathon route for your convenience.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.

Rob McConnell,
Executive Director,
International Institute for Spinal Regeneration,
- and --
Public relations / Media Liaison for the Golden Horseshoe Marathon,
762 Upper James Steet, Suite 266,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L9C 3A2
Tel: (905) 575-5916 / Fax: (905) 575-5066
Website: www.iisr.net

2005 Golden Horseshoe Marathon Route -- Saturday September 10 -- Wednesday September 14, 2005.

Day 1- Saturday September 10, 2005: Start- 10:00am Niagara Falls - Fallsview Blvd & Livingstone St. Travel on Fallsview Blvd, R on Victoria Ave, L on River Rd which turns into Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-¬Lake. Lunch stop at McFarlane House (22.Skm) Follow Niagara Parkway onto Queen's Parade then Picton St and Queen St turn L on Mississauga St, R on Mary St which becomes Lakeshore Rd, L on East West Line, R on Four Mile Creek Rd, R on Penner St, L on Concession 6 Rd, L on Niagara Stone Rd to Virgil Town Hall - Stop at approx 3:30pm Total 42.8 km

Day 2 - Sunday September 11, 2005: Start - 10: 00 am Virgil Town Hall - Four Mile Creek Rd, L on Lakeshore Rd, L on Niagara St (St. Catharines), R on Church St, R on James St to City Hall, exit City Hall on James St (turns into Lake), L on Lakeport Rd, Lunch Stop at Lakeside Park (22.6 km) exit park onto Lakeport Rd, L on Main St which turns into Lakeshore Rd, L on 7th Street Louth, R on North Service Rd, L on Victoria Ave, R on South Service Rd, L on Bartlett Rd to Lincoln Town Hall - Stop at approx 3:30pm. Total 44 km

Day 3 - Monday September 12, 2005: Start - 10:00am Lincoln Town Hall (Bartlett Rd) - R on South Service Rd, L on Book Rd, R on Main St E which turns into Livingston Ave, stop at Grimsby Town Hall, L on Casablanca Blvd, R on Main St W which turns into Hwy #8. Lunch stop at Stoney Creek City Hall (arrive at noon), NRPS hand over police escort to HPS here at noon, exit City Hall back onto Hwy #8 which turns into Main St E, R on King St E, R on Forsythe Ave to Mayfair Crescent and double back to McMaster University entrance - Stop at approx 3:30pm Total 43.3 km

Day 4 - Tuesday September 13, 2005: Start - 10:00am Wellington St (General Hospital) - R on Cannon St to York Blvd which turns into Plains Rd W, HPS hand over police escort to RAPS at parking lot of former Lee's Garden Restaurant at 11:00 am, follow Plains Rd W which then turns into Plains Rd E, R on Maple Ave, L on Lakeshore Rd, L on Brant to City Hall, exit City Hall on Brant, L on Lakeshore Rd. Lunch stop at Port Nelson Park, exit park back onto Lakeshore Rd which turns into Lakeshore Rd W (Oakville) to the first entrance of Petro-Canada Parking Lot - Stop at approx 3:30pm Total 42 km

Day 5 - Wednesday September 14, 2005: Start - 10: 00am Oakville City Hall - exit City Hall onto Trafalgar Rd, L on South Service Rd E, R on Royal Windsor Dr, HRPS hand over police escort to PRPS at Tim Horton parking lot(N side of Royal Windsor Dr) at l0: 30am, follow Royal Windsor Dr which turns into Lakeshore Rd W which then turns into Lakeshore Rd E. Lunch stop Marie Curtis Park (20km), PRPS hand over police escort to MTPS at Marie Curtis Pk at noon, exit park R onto Lakeshore Rd E which turns into Lakeshore Rd W (Toronto), L on Bay St to City Hall (enter at Albert St), Public Participants join here for the 2km wheelchair challenge, exit City Hall via Albert St, L on Bay St, L on Dundas St, R on University Ave to Queen's Park - Stop at approx 3:30pm Total 42.4 km

###