Celebrities, Elite Tower Runners and Challenged Athletes to Participate in Iconic Race
Today, the Empire State Building announced the Elite Tower Runners, Challenged Athletes and celebrities from around the world who will join lucky lottery winners to climb their way the 1,576 steps to the top of The World’s Most Famous Building on Tuesday, 26 October 2021 for the Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU) presented by Turkish Airlines and powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to get a daily dose of business and lifestyle news from NHA – News Hub Asia!
The men’s elite heat for the 43rd annual running event will feature tower running legends like Wai Ching Soh (Malaysia), who came in second in 2019; Sproule Love (St. Louis, MO) who finished third in 2018 and sixth in 2019; and David Roeske (Loveland, CO), the fourth person ever to successfully climb Mount Everest. Notable contenders in the women’s elite heat include Cindy Harris (Indianapolis, IN) – who came in second in the 2019 race – as well as Shari Klarfeld (Plainview, NY), Maria Elisa Lopez Pimentel (Mexico), Omar Bekkali (Belgium), and Fabio Ruga (Italy), all of whom finished in the top six back in 2019.
“To be able to return to New York and compete against the world’s best athletes in such a unique challenge – in such an iconic location – is a great honour,” said Wai Ching Soh, the Guinness World Record Holder for the greatest vertical height stair climbing in one hour. “I have no doubt the competition will be fierce this year, and I’m looking forward to once again being part of such a milestone challenge, and hopefully breaking my personal record.”
New to the race this year will be performance sportswear brand On Running, with a designated heat of running enthusiasts and influencers from around the country eager to ascend New York’s most iconic landmark.
Turkish Airlines, a leading global airline flying to more countries and international destinations than any other, returns for its third year as presenting sponsor of the 2021 Run-Up and will present both the top elite male and female runner with a complimentary flight. In addition to serving New York’s JFK airport, Turkish Airlines launched its tenth U.S. gateway at Newark International Airport earlier this year on 21 May 2021.
“Turkish Airlines is honoured to once again be a part of an exhilarating event that brings communities together from around the globe in an incredible race at the most iconic building in the world,” said Turkish Airlines New York General Manager, Cenk Ocal. “It comes with great pleasure to continue our commitment to sporting events and supporting organizations that champion dynamism and the competitive spirit, while also providing participants the opportunity to see the world with the chance to win tickets on Turkish Airlines to one of our 300-plus destinations around the world.”
Subscribe to our Telegram channel to get a daily dose of business and lifestyle news from NHA – News Hub Asia!
Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) returns as the official charity of the Run-Up as a world leader in helping people with physical challenges get involved and stay involved in sports by providing unparalleled sports opportunities, hope, education, and inspiring physically challenged individuals to live active lifestyles.
“We’re excited to once again be part of an iconic event that brings together challenged athletes and our supporters to further our mission. We have an impressive and powerful group of challenged athletes and fundraisers who, with the help of the Empire State Building, will show the world what’s possible when anyone with physical disabilities has the support needed to achieve their goals,” said Doug Olson, Northeast Senior Development Director for CAF.
In addition to ON Running, Turkish Airlines and CAF race heats, participants will include media, celebrities such as Bachelorette Tayshia Adams and Celebrity Trainer Don Saladino, and lottery participants in other designated heats. Author and Venture Capitalist Tim Draper will specifically host a heat that will pit the West Coast against the East Coast, as Silicon Valley Ventures goes head-to-head against New York City Ventures to win a USD100,000 donation to their respective charity. The Empire State Building’s world-famous tower lights will shine in Turkish Airlines’ colours – red and white – the evening of the race in celebration of the event.
More information about the Empire State Building and the Run-Up can be found online.
Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (Press release)
