Pat's Run lines up for return to Tempe

San Jose, CA (Jan. 11, 2006) – The Second Annual Pat's Run is coming back to the Valley this spring to remember one of the nation's most inspiring people. Organizers are preparing for a turnout of 10,000 participants for the April 15 running-walking event in Tempe.

The event celebrates the life of Pat Tillman, a scholar-athlete who first earned Arizona's respect through his academic achievements and accomplishments as a football player for Arizona State University and the Arizona Cardinals. Pat graduated in three and a half years with a 3.97 grade-point average before being drafted by the Cardinals. His dominating defensive play resulted in a multi-million-dollar contract which he gave up to serve his country after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. People throughout the world mourned his 2004 death in Afghanistan.

Pat's Run offers a chance for everyone to take action in Pat's name by running or walking 4.2 miles. The course winds through Tempe and ends on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium's Frank Kush Field. Participants eight years old and younger can test themselves in a .42-mile run. All the distances commemorate the number 42, which Pat wore during his days in a Sun Devils uniform. To register, go to www.patsrun.com on the Internet. Registration cost starts at $25.

The first event in April of 2005 drew more than 6,000 participants, a nearly unprecedented number for a first-year event. San Jose, California will also hold a Pat's Run event on April 30th.

Proceeds from Pat's Run will benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation and its Leadership Through Action™ initiative at ASU. Leadership Through Action™ is the focus of the foundation's mission of creating responsible, civic-minded leaders in Tillman's mold. The Tillman family recognized the impact he had on the people of Arizona and wanted to create a lasting legacy for people inspired by his actions. The first group of Tillman Scholars began studying under Dr. Laura Burgis and Professor Mike Mokwa in the fall. Each year, officials from the foundation and ASU will select up to 15 Tillman Scholars for Leadership Through Action™.

About the Pat Tillman Foundation
The Tillman family created the Pat Tillman Foundation following his death in April 2004. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is determined to carry Pat's legacy forward by inspiring people to make positive changes in themselves and in the world around them. To learn more about the foundation, visit its Web site at www.pattillmanfoundation.org.