Credit Unions Raise Over $180K for Children's Hospitals.

The second annual Credit Union SacTown Ten-Mile Runwhich took place Sunday April 7 in downtown Sacramento, CAraised $182,160 for Childrens Miracle Network hospitals in California and Nevada. The event was sponsored by CU Miracle Day, Inc. along with 59 credit unions and credit union businesses including the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues.

Credit Union SacTown Ten-Mile Run, also designed to increase national awareness of credit unions, took place the same day as the 41st Annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten-Mile Run in Washington D.C., followed by the Credit Union Freedom Runs for troops overseas. Combined, the "Family of Races" raised a total of $483,000 for Childrens Miracle Network hospitals across the country. Nearly 1,700 runnersincluding more than 700 credit union employees and membersparticipated in the Sacramento race, which started and finished in front of the state capitol building, with a $15,000-prize purse awarded. More than 200 credit union staff and members worked the event as volunteers. "We are quickly building momentum in only our second year," said SacTown 10 Committee Chairman John Pamer, CEO of Concord, CA-based Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union. "We saw a significant increase in runners, credit union volunteers, legislative participation, and donations to CMN Hospitals. It was a beautiful day for a fun, high-energy, healthy event that showcases credit unions to the general public and the Capitol community. Most importantly, the difference those who participated helped make for the kids will last long after the banners come down." Cara Cooper, a St. Francis High School junior who credits treatment she received at UC Davis Childrens Hospital with helping her recover from the H1N1 virus (swine flu), sang the national anthem. Nancy Snider ran the race in honor her of her daughter Laura, who died at age 11 after an arteriovenous malformationan abnormal connection of blood vessels in the brainruptured. Out of the 161 congressional honorary race chairs from 39 states who registered to compete in the "family of races," 19 were from California and Nevada, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (CA), Nevada Reps. Mark Amodie and Joe Heck, and California Reps. John Garamendi, Doris Matsui, Ami Bera, George Miller, Jackie Speier, Jim Costa, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Buck McKeon, Adam Schiff, Tony Cardenas, Gary Miller, Henry Waxman, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Janice Hahn, and Darrell Issa. The event kicked off with a craft day and news conference on Friday, April 5 at UC Davis Childrens Hospital in Sacramento, CA. At the event, California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues President and CEO Diana Dykstra and Pamer presented CMN with a check representing the $483,000 raised for childrens hospitals. Vacaville-based Travis Credit Union and Sacramento-based The Golden 1 Credit Union provided piggybanks, coloring books, and live mascots for the children to enjoy.