Denver, Colo. (Nov. 19, 2013) - The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) and Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon  announced today their partnership for the upcoming race in May, 2014.  The new partnership will provide athletes of all disabilities a customized and enjoyable experience from registration to the finish line. 

More than 14,000 athletes are anticipated to participate in the seven races of the Colfax Marathon on the weekend of May 17-18, 2014. The event includes a 26.2 mile Marathon, 13.1 mile Half Marathon, Urban 10 Miler, Colfax 5K and three divisions of the 5-person Marathon Relay. The Colfax Marathon is home to one of the country's largest Charity Partner Programs, and in 2013, 122 nonprofits used the event to raise money and awareness for their cause.

"We will operate as a resource for registered disabled athletes and serve as a uniting force to bring together all of the Colfax Marathon Charity Partners that have a connection to the disabled community," said Becky Zimmermann, president and CEO of the NSCD.  

Together with the NSCD, Emily Harvey, an amputee runner, will serve as the "NSCD/Colfax Liaison" and work with the Colfax Marathon race directors to provide an optimal overall experience for runners with disabilities by evaluating every step in the race process.  The NSCD will assist with outreach to the disabled community and provide information about the race through the Colfax Marathon's website at www.runcolfax.org. The NSCD will be present at the two-day Health & Fitness Expo on May 16-17, 2014, where athletes pick up their race day packets, providing athletes with disabilities with race day information and support.

On race weekend, the NSCD will host a start line area specifically designed for athletes of all disabilities, providing a welcoming community and resource for last minute questions. 

The 13.1 mile Colfax Half Marathon and the Colfax 5K courses are optimal for athletes of all disabilities. The 26.2 mile Marathon, Marathon Relay and Urban 10 Miler course has restrictive sections that are not suitable or safe for athletes using pushrims or hand-cycles. The NSCD will provide guidance to athletes to determine which course is best for them.

"This partnership helps position the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon as one of the most enjoyable races for all runners at any ability," said Andrea Dowdy, CEO of the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon.  "We are very excited about partnering with the NSCD because the end result is a better race experience for everybody and increased participation by hundreds of disabled athletes." 

The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) began in 1970 as a one-time ski lesson for children with amputations for the Children's Hospital of Denver. Today, the NSCD is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies in the world. Each year, thousands of children and adults with disabilities take to the ski slopes, mountain trails and playing fields to learn more about sports - and themselves.  With specially trained staff and its own adaptive equipment lab, the NSCD teaches a variety of winter and summer sports and activities to individuals with almost any physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral diagnosis. For more information about the National Sports Center for Disabled visit our website at http://nscd.org or like us on Facebook for updates about our programs and athletes.