July 16, 2020
Former Bachelorette Contestants, Connor Saeli and Mike Johnson, to Participate as Last Men Running in the 50th Anniversary of the BMW Dallas Marathon
(DALLAS) – runDallas announced yesterday that former Bachelorette contestants, Connor Saeli and Mike Johnson, will participate as the Last Men Running in this year’s 50th Anniversary of the BMW Dallas Marathon on Sunday, December 13. The Last Man Running Challenge, presented by Andrews Distributing, serves as an additional fundraiser for the race’s beneficiary, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Since being named as the primary beneficiary in 1997, the Dallas Marathon has donated more than $4 million to the hospital. This year the efforts will also support Big Brothers Big Sisters on Mike’s behalf.
Connor and Mike will be the final runners to cross the starting line on Sunday, Dec. 13, attempting to pass as many race participants as possible in an effort to raise money for Texas Scottish Rite for Children and Big Brothers Big Sisters. For each runner they pass, $1 will be donated on their behalf. Connor and Mike will run in the half marathon distance as they take on this challenge.
“This year’s race will be a weekend of epic running celebrations and we look forward to Connor and Mike’s participation as we commemorate 50 years of the Dallas Marathon,” says Paul Lambert, President at runDallas.
“I am really excited to be running in my 4th Dallas Marathon race and to be doing it alongside my friend, Mike Johnson! This year is even more special to me because I am able to raise money for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children” says Connor Saeli. “Running the races over the last several years has been a really special experience, and I am fired up to see all of the other runners and everyone cheering on race day!”
“I’m ecstatic to be doing my first ever half-marathon in the city I call home and with my TV brother and real life friend, Connor! The support I have is tremendous and the team at runDallas is an incredible juggernaut in aiding to raise money for my charity Big Brothers Big Sisters” says Mike Johnson. “To be a part of the 50th anniversary [BMW Dallas Marathon Festival] is amazing! Out of all the years I could’ve done this I chose this monumental anniversary to embarrass myself in running! Can’t wait to be amongst this electrifying crowd!!”
Connor has participated in the BMW Dallas Marathon three times before in both the full and half marathon distances. Mike will be completing his first half marathon for this challenge. runDallas is expecting 25,000 runners and walkers to join them in this year’s 50th anniversary celebration.
To learn more about the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival and the Last Man Running Challenge, visit rundallas.com/events/bmw-dallas-marathon-festival/last-man-running/.
About runDallas: runDallas promotes health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. It will oversee several iconic events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the marquee event, the BMW Dallas Marathon, as well as the Oncor Mayor’s Race, Five on the 4th, Dallas Corporate 5K and BMW 5K Social Runs. runDallas will raise funds and provide a marketing platform for several major non-profit organizations in the North Texas area, including Scottish Rite for Children, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Dallas Independent School District, and several other local and national charities. runDallas will serve as an agent to bring those of all ages and fitness levels together in the spirit of health and physical fitness. For more information, please visit rundallas.com.
About the BMW Dallas Marathon Festival: The Dallas Marathon is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting health and physical fitness through running events and related activities. Dating back to 1971, the organization hosts year-round events culminating with Dallas’ largest and Texas’ longest running marathon: the BMW Dallas Marathon. Now in its 50th running, the marquee race attracts runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Dallas’ largest single-day sporting event. The BMW Dallas Marathon racecourse highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the official marathon of the City of Dallas. Since naming a primary beneficiary in 1997, the Dallas Marathon has donated more than $4 million to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit https://www.rundallas.com/events/bmw-dallas-marathon-weekend/.
About Andrews Distributing: Andrews Distributing Company is one of the nation’s largest beer distributors with facilities in Dallas, Allen, Corpus Christi and Fort Worth, Texas. Andrews employs 1,600 proud team members who manage distribution centers totaling more than one million square feet and deliver more than 35 million cases annually. The Andrews team distributes over 700 beer brands to 26 North and South Texas counties. Andrews is dedicated to being a marketing and technology leader in the industry with the focus of serving retail customers, Building Brands and celebrating a winning team culture. For additional information, visit www.andrewsdistributing.com.
About Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Scottish Rite for Children is one of the nation’s leading pediatric centers specializing in muscles, joints and bones. The world-renowned specialists treat a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including sports injuries and fractures, as well as certain arthritic, neurological 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 campus, visit scottishritehospital.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Dallas: Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, holds itself accountable for all youth in its program to reach their fullest potential by measuring outcomes such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) then monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches. Big Brothers Big Sisters builds and supports one-to-one relationships to ignite the biggest possible futures for youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters has served the Greater Dallas community for 94 years. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life at https://www.bbbstx.org/dallas/.
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