Knoxville Marathon Donates $5,000 to Benefit Athletes with Disabilities

KNOXVILLE -- The 2011 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon has donated $5,000 of its proceeds to the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center's Innovative Recreation Cooperative (IRC). IRC is a local program that encourages sports and recreation among people with disabilities.

Jason Altman (right), director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, presents a check for $5,000 to the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center's Innovative Recreation Cooperative (IRC), which was accepted by IRC program coordinator Al Kaye (left) on June 25. The 2011 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon donated the portion of its proceeds to the IRC, which encourages sports and recreation among people with disabilities. The check was presented at the Lenoir City Festival of Friends, where the IRC provided an adaptive water skiing demonstration.

The check presentation took place at the Lenoir City Festival of Friends, where the IRC provided an adaptive water skiing demonstration.

"We are grateful to be a recipient of proceeds from the marathon," said Al Kaye, IRC program coordinator. "Philanthropic support plays an increasingly important role in our ability to provide both unique opportunities for our patients and excellence in innovative recreation health in our community."

The IRC encourages people with disabilities to pursue leisure and sports activities including hand cycling, which is one of the races included in the marathon.

As a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon proceeds also benefit KTC youth track and field development programs.

Covenant Health has been the presenting sponsor of the marathon since the inaugural event in 2005. It has become the largest competitive road race in Tennessee.

Published June 28, 2011