BOSTON (March 29, 2011) – Over $70,000 was raised by 2011
Antarctica Marathon participants on behalf of Oceanites, Inc., announced
Marathon Tours & Travel, the event organizer who spearheaded the
fundraising campaign. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Oceanites is a
non-profit organization that researches the impact of tourism on
Antarctica‰Ûªs pristine environment.

 

Britons David McLellan
and Ian Edwards raised over $63,000 and an additional $6,750 was netted
at a post-race auction of trip mementos. The event was held February 28.

 

Due
to the success of the 2011 inaugural program, the Antarctica Marathon,
one of the world‰Ûªs most perennially sold-out marathons, will reserve two
spots in the 2012 event for runners committed to raising $25,000 each
for Oceanites.

 

‰ÛÏThis is an opportunity for Antarctica
Marathon participants to make an important contribution in the
preservation of the most unspoiled place on the planet long after they
cross the finish line,‰Û said Thom Gilligan, president of Boston-based
Marathon Tours & Travel and expedition leader. ‰ÛÏWe work very hard to
have zero impact on the environment during the race and throughout the
two-week trip. I doubt if a greener marathon exists.‰Û

 

The
Antarctica Marathon and Half Marathon has sold out nine of its last 13
editions, usually years in advance, and is presently sold out through
2014.

 

In 2011, 98 athletes from 14 countries journeyed by
land, air and sea to run on what is known as the darkest, windiest,
iciest and most remote continent on earth. The 26.2- and 13.1-mile
courses are held on gravel roads that connect the scientific research
bases of Uruguay, Chile, China and Russia on King George Island just off
the Antarctic Peninsula.

 

The 13th Antarctica Marathon is
scheduled for March 9, 2012. For more information contact Marathon Tours
& Travel at (617) 242-7845, write to info@marathontours.com or
visit www.marathontours.com. For more information on Oceanites, please visit www.oceanites.org.

 

About Marathon Tours & Travel

Boston-based
Marathon Tours & Travel is the leading marathon tour operator in
North America. The company offers comprehensive travel packages to
marathons on all seven continents, including the Antarctica Marathon and
Safaricom Marathon in Kenya, the only marathon run entirely within a
game park.