The 53rd Annual BMW Dallas Marathon Festival Weekend Commences at Scottish Rite for Children

December 16, 2024

With a $250,000 Check Presentation from BMW Dallas Marathon and DFW BMW Dealers

DALLAS (Dec. 16, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 2024 BMW Dallas Marathon Festival weekend kicked off this morning, bringing together supporters, volunteers, representatives from Scottish Rite for Children, the race’s primary beneficiary, and title sponsor, DFW BMW Dealers.

Jason Schuchard, President of the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival, said he is incredibly excited to welcome everyone to this year’s event.

“There’s so much to look forward to this weekend and our team is ready,” Schuchard said. “It’s a privilege to get to partner with Scottish Rite, and we are excited and grateful for a weekend full of fun, fitness, and community spirit.”

This will be the 27^th year of Scottish Rite for Children partnering with the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival. Logan Sherman, Chairman for Dallas White Rock Marathon, expressed his immense gratitude for the relationship the organizations have sustained through the years and how Scottish Rite has supported his family.

“For over 20 years, I’ve walked through these doors, and every time, I still get goosebumps,” said Sherman. “The first time I stepped into Scottish Rite as a young athlete, I was in awe. I could see and feel the remarkable difference this hospital and its incredible staff made in their patients’ lives and the community. Every detail, every moment here, is so thoughtfully considered. It was clear that this was more than a hospital—it was a sanctuary of hope and healing.”

Since the festival named Scottish Rite for Children as their primary beneficiary in 1997, it has raised more than $4.5 million for the world-renowned institution. This year, the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival and DFW BMW dealers presented Scottish Rite For Children with two checks totaling $250,000.

“It’s hard to believe this is the 53^rd year of the marathon and our 27^th year of partnering with them and it has been tremendous for Scottish Rite,” said Bob Walker, President and CEO of Scottish Rite for Children.

Walker recognized this year’s Patient Champions and 2024 Race Ambassador, 21-year-old Korban Best, 6-year-old Judson, 8-year-old Deborah, 9-year-old Virgina, 11-year-old Jon, and 13-year-old Noah. All of the Patient Champions and the Race Ambassador will be cheering on participants throughout the weekend.

“Scottish Rite means so much to me; it’s felt like family,” said Race Ambassador Korban Best. “There are no words to explain it—the camaraderie, the patients, the staff—they always make me feel like family. It’s truly a blessing to be here again. From being a patient champion when I was younger to now serving as the race ambassador, I’m so glad to be spending the weekend with y’all.”

Patient Champion Judson was in awe of the mascots, surrounded by his friends and family who came to support him during race weekend.

“It is so fun to be a Patient Champion, and I am happy to be with my friends and enjoy the popcorn they gave us,” Judson said.

For their ninth year of partnership, BMW wrapped a vehicle with line drawings of the Dallas skyline and the different activities that Scottish Rite patients throughout the hospital are involved in from painting, riding horses, and dancing.

“It is no secret that this is a special weekend for us,” said Curtis Snyder, Marketing Manager for BMW of North America. “The parallel between the ultimate athletes out here performing and running all weekend long, our ultimate driving machines, and the performance that aligns with that, as well as the community aspect of what this race means to the DFW metro and how it brings everyone together, is incredible. But more importantly, the reason we are here is Scottish Rite for Children, and we are so glad to support this organization.”

Weekend Events

The weekend-long festival will begin at 7 p.m., December 13, with the fourth annual Friday Night Lights Mile. This is a two-lap Grand Prix-style race around Dallas City Hall Plaza that will include multiple heats for runners of all abilities. Things begin heating up on Saturday, December 14, at 8:00 a.m., with the new EIGHT K, followed by the 5K/5K Team Challenge at 8:10 a.m. and the 5K Walk beginning at 8:15 a.m. By 10:00 a.m., it’s the kids’ turn to start racing, starting with the 100M Dash. At 11 a.m., the Oncor Kids’ Race will begin. Both kids’ events are free of charge.

Sunday, December 15, at 8:00 a.m., the sold out Full, Half, Half Marathon Walk, 50K Ultra Marathon and the Shell Energy Relays (two-person half marathon and five-person marathon) kick off. These races begin in downtown Dallas and showcase some of the most notable areas of the city. Along the course, there will be exciting cheer stations and on-course entertainment before the finish line at Dallas City Hall Plaza. In addition to these races, the Shell Energy two-person and five-person relays will also be held on Sunday. These team-building races will be held in both a half-marathon and marathon distance. Spectators can attend all events for free.

For more information about the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival’s 53^rd anniversary running, please visit www.dallasmarathon.com . For unique story opportunities throughout the weekend, please contact Silver Hogue at Silver.Hogue@hck2.com or at (214) 697-3113.

About The Dallas White Rock Marathon

The Dallas White Rock Marathon (DWRM) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. The organization is comprised of volunteer board members and a full-time staff with various backgrounds and running experiences that help carry out the mission of the DWRM as well as support the growth and impact of the DWRM portfolio of events in the Dallas-Fort Worth community. Dating back to 1971, the organization hosts year-round events culminating with Dallas’ largest and Texas’ longest running marathon: the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival. Now in its 53rd running, the marquee event, with 12 running and walking events for all ages, will attract runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Dallas’ largest single-day sporting event. The BMW Dallas Marathon Festival course highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the official marathon of the City of Dallas. Since naming a primary beneficiary in 1997, DWRM has donated more than $4.5 million to Scottish Rite for Children. For more information, visit www.dallasmarathon.com.

About Scottish Rite for Children

Scottish Rite for Children is a world-renowned leader in the treatment of orthopedic conditions, such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand differences, hip disorders, limb lengthening, sports injuries and fractures, as well as certain related arthritic and neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Patients receive treatment regardless of the family’s ability to pay. For more information about services available at the Dallas or Frisco campuses, volunteering or donating, please visit scottishriteforchildren.org.

.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; technology offices in Silicon Valley and Chicago, and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 348 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 121 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

###

MEDIA CONTACT

Silver Hogue
(214) 697-3113
Silver.Hogue@hck2.com