More than 4,000 runners expected to help raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, April 19, 2022 – More than 4,000 runners are expected to participate in the first-ever RBC Race for the Kids 4M Presented by New York Road Runners (NYRR) in Central Park on Sunday, April 24, NYRR announced today.
The event in Central Park, part of NYRR’s new four-year partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), is RBC’s flagship philanthropic event and will consist of a four-mile run and a 1.4-mile walk for families. It will be the newest event in the RBC Race for the Kids series, which started in New York as a single event in 2009 and grew to a series of 17 charitable races around the world that support kids and youth-focused causes. Since it began, the series has hosted 325,000 participants who have collectively raised over $51 million for youth around the world.
“New York Road Runners is grateful to have a committed partner in RBC, whose purpose-driven mission aligns with ours,” said Christine Burke, NYRR Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products. “We will have the privilege of combining our efforts to host a meaningful event in Central Park on Sunday that will bring families together to raise awareness and funds for children who are living with cancer.”
As a purpose-driven global financial institution, RBC is strongly committed to giving back to communities, and the race in Central Park will be focused on raising funds for MSK Kids, the pediatric cancer program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center which treats more young people with cancer than any other hospital in the United States. Donations will help advance their mission to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer, specifically in the area of immunotherapy.
“RBC Race for the Kids, which started in New York in 2009, is a core part of RBC as an organization and we are thrilled to be able to partner with New York Road Runners to further expand our reach,” said Derek Neldner, CEO, RBC Capital Markets. “This year, we are excited to move our tradition to a bigger stage in Central Park and to bring together the community to raise awareness and funds for a great cause in MSK Kids.”
Previously, RBC Race for the Kids events have taken place in the Bahamas, Barbados, Calgary, Chicago, Hong Kong, Jersey, Kuala Lumpur, London, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, St. Paul, Sydney, Toronto, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vancouver.
RBC will also be the new title sponsor of the RBC Brooklyn Half on May 21. As both the exclusive title partner and exclusive financial services and investment banking partner of the event, RBC will receive all title sponsor rights, including the pre-party and post-race activations.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. Since 1958, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s commitment to New York City’s five boroughs features races, virtual races, community events, free youth running initiatives and school programs, the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event is the TCS New York City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features a wide population of runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
