Jay Schroeder heads the Run for Mobility

The Surf City USA Marathon, formerly known as the Pacific Shoreline Marathon, may have changed its name, but Southern California’s largest oceanfront marathon will continue its successful charitable partnership with the Free Wheelchair Mission.

The charity has set a goal of raising enough money to provide 13,000 free wheelchairs to the disabled in undeveloped countries from this year’s event. This year’s run is scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday (February 3) in Huntington Beach, California.

To show there’s more to do on Super Bowl Sunday than just watch football, former NFL quarterback Jay Schroeder has committed to run in the event and serve as the keynote speaker for the fundraising dinner the night before at the Hilton Beachfront Resort.

Schroeder was a two-sport star at Palisades High School in Los Angeles and played football for UCLA. His 11-year NFL career began with the Redskins, but he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988, played with them for four years, and led them to the 1990 AFC Championship Game.

“I am excited about the opportunity to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday in such a healthy and rewarding way,” said Schroeder. “Once I heard about the great work the Free Wheelchair Mission does, I knew it was a cause I wanted to support. I encourage all runners to fundraise and all of my former neighbors, classmates and fans in Southern California to sign up to run or sponsor a runner.”

For the third consecutive year, the “Run for Mobility” will allow runners the chance to permanently change lives by raising money to purchase special wheelchairs for the physically disabled in undeveloped countries. Thus far, through the partnership between the charity and the marathon, more than 14,000 people have received a free wheelchair and the gift of mobility, thanks to these runners.

In the “Run for Mobility” program, runners or walkers can become fundraisers by running the marathon, half marathon or 5K, and committing to raise donations from businesses, friends and co-workers as part of the activity. For people who want to help support the cause, but don’t have a runner to sponsor, Free Wheelchair Mission is encouraging people to support Jay Schroeder’s run by visiting his personal fundraising page. Jay’s set a goal of raising $5,700 – which equals the cost of one wheelchair - for each of the 114 touchdown passes he threw in the NFL.

The Run for Mobility raised $165,000 in its inaugural year and $465,000 last year.  This year’s goal is $650,000, which is enough to “lift” 13,000 people off the ground and into a wheelchair.

“There are one hundred million people living and crawling in the dirt around the globe,” said Don Schoendorfer, President and Founder of Free Wheelchair Mission. “We are once again delighted to join forces with the Surf City USA Marathon so we can offer the gift of mobility to thousands, while at the same time enlighten the community about these forgotten human beings. We encourage everyone to join us and Jay in supporting the cause.”

As an extra incentive, the Free Wheelchair Mission will pay the registration fee and guarantee a spot in the Surf City USA Marathon, Half-Marathon or 5K for any person willing to raise a minimum of $500. For more information, you can contact 800-733-0858 (x219) or visit www.RunForMobility.org.

About Free Wheelchair Mission

Free Wheelchair Mission is an Orange County, California based non-profit organization who’s mission is to transform lives through the gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries as motivated by Jesus Christ. Free Wheelchair Mission creatively partners with like-minded international humanitarian and indigenous organizations and plans to distribute 20 million wheelchairs. Started in 2001, the organization’s distributed more than 275,000 wheelchairs to 73 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.freewheelchairmission.org.

About the Surf City USA Marathon

The longest running marathon and half marathon in Orange County , the Surf City USA Marathon is celebrating its 12th Anniversary on February, 3rd, Super Bowl Sunday. This year’s event is expecting 15,000 runners from all 50 states and several foreign countries. For more information, or to register, please visit www.runsurfcity.com.