Kidney Donor Running Three Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend Races at Disneyland Resort

Filed in: runDisney, Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend, Uncategorized

South Carolina runner donated kidney weeks before race; Event weekend one of two Star Wars-themed runDisney events this year; Compelling local human-interest stories, runner interviews and visual live shot opportunities available

 
WHAT: The Force is awakening as more than 30,000 runners from across the United States and 28 countries unite for the second annual Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend at the Disneyland Resort
 
STORYLINES: 
·Beth Waller of Lexington, S.C., who registered early to run the 5K, 10K and half marathon, put her plans on hold when she found out her high school friend needed a kidney. In December 2015, she gave the gift of life and donated one of her kidneys. Waller was just recently given the green light to run by her doctors and will be running the 5K with her 8-year-old twins, and then the 10K and half marathon to complete the  Star Wars Rebel Challenge and take home three finisher medals.
·US Marine Corpsman Chris Murphy of Escondido, Calif., was told by doctors that he could never run again after injuring his knees while in the military. Yet Murphy will defy the odds again by running his fifth runDisney half marathon while dressed in a Marine Corps kilt and carrying a large American flag.
 
WHEN:   Thursday-Sunday (Jan. 14-17, 2016)
 
Jan. 17, 5:30 a.m. PST
Jan. 16, 5:30 a.m. PST
Disneyland Hotel Exhibit Hall 
 
 
Jan. 14, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. PST
Jan. 15, noon – 8 p.m. PST
Jan. 15, 5:30 a.m. PST
Jan. 16, 9 a.mPST
Jan. 16, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
*Media must be on location no later than 4 a.m. for live coverage of the start and finish lines for all races. Please exit I-5 on Katella Avenue and proceed west.  Turn right on Walnut Street and right on Magic Way.  Disney PR will escort television live trucks to the start line located on Disneyland Drive.  All other media may park in the parking garage.