Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Named An Official Charity Partner Of The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon

NEW YORK, March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is pleased to announce that it is an Official Charity Partner of the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon. The ADDF invites runners who did not secure an individual spot in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon to join its Runners for Alzheimer's Research team on Sunday, November 1, 2015.

"The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is thrilled to partner with the TCS New York City Marathon as an official charity partner," said Howard Fillit, MD, Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer. "The TCS New York City Marathon provides a powerful platform for our runners to shine a light on a cause that impacts 44 million people worldwide. We will support our runners throughout their memorable journeys as they work to completing this race, all while raising critical funds to accelerate the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease and related dementias."

Nearly 300 official charity partners are expected to participate in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon this year.

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder of the Estée Lauder cosmetics family, the ADDF provides critical seed funding to leading scientists conducting breakthrough drug discovery and development research for Alzheimer's. Through the tremendous support of its donors, the ADDF has invested over $70 million to support 450 drug discovery programs in academic centers and biotechnology companies worldwide. Alzheimer's disease is the only top 10 cause of death in the United States that cannot yet be prevented, slowed or cured.

Members of the ADDF's Runners for Alzheimer's Research team will play a critical role in advancing the foundation's work to conquer Alzheimer's disease. Team members will receive guaranteed entry into 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, a personal fundraising platform, opportunities to join team runs, tips and tools for fundraising, and more. The ADDF is proud to have Chris Johnson, son of former New York Giants running back Ron Johnson, as a key member of its 2015 team. In 2012, Johnson raised $83,422 for the ADDF while running in the International Malibu Marathon. Chris's father, Ron, suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

"We warmly welcome the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation as an official charity partner for the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon," said Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of New York Road Runners. "All of our participants are inspired to run for reasons significant and special to them, and we are especially appreciative of those who make a meaningful commitment to run on behalf of one of our official charity partners. We wish the best to all of these runners as they begin to plan and prepare for an experience of a lifetime."

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon will feature a talented American and international professional athlete field, charity runners and thousands of runners of all ages and abilities. More than 10,000 volunteers help to support participants across the 26.2-mile race route, which touches each of New York City's five boroughs, and is lined with more than one million neighbors and guests. Last year, NYRR celebrated each of the 50,530 runners who crossed the finish line and made the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon the largest in the world, including the one-millionth finisher ever in the history of the event.

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon will air live locally on ABC7 and nationally on ESPN2.

About the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation
Co-founded by Ronald S. and Leonard A. Lauder of the Estée Lauder cosmetics family, the mission of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is to accelerate the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's diseases, related dementias and cognitive aging. Since its founding, the ADDF has granted more than $70 million to fund over 450 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs in academic centers and biotechnology companies in 18 countries. This is the first time the ADDF has been an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon. To learn more, visit www.AlzDiscovery.org

About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and the largest marathon in the world. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features the world's top professional athletes and a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. The race began in 1970 with just 127 entrants running four laps around Central Park, and expanded citywide in 1976. In 2014, a record 50,530 runners from 130 countries toured New York City's five boroughs, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and running through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, before ending in Manhattan at the iconic Central Park finish line. More than one million spectators line the city streets to cheer on the runners, while millions more watch the live television broadcast in the United States and around the world. The race is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series featuring the world's top marathonsTokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New Yorkand crowning the top professional male and female marathoners of the series. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. To learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.com.

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SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation