Woman Runs Route of Tour de France to Save Young Lives

Woman Runs Route of Tour de France to Save Young Lives

Zoe Romano is in Pursuit of the Impossible

RICHMOND, Va., June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As we type, Zoe Romano is making history. She has currently run more than 500 of the 2,087 mile route of the Tour de France. Her run will not only defy those who believe a woman cannot bike the Tour de France, she will also change the world through her support of World Pediatric Project.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/MM31409LOGO-a)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/MM31409LOGO-b)

Romano started her journey in Nice on Saturday, May 18, and will cross the finish line in Paris on Sunday, July 21. She will run nearly 30 miles per day; more than a marathon each day for 64 days. Once completed, she'll be the first person to run the route of the Tour de France.

Romano is no stranger to long distance running. In 2011, she became the first female to run across the United States without the help of a support crew.

"I'm always looking for a challenge and running is how I challenge myself. After accomplishing my run across the U.S. two years ago, I was eager to set another goal," Romano said. "I want to use the run to save young lives. I partnered with World Pediatric Project because their mission speaks to me. These children are going through their own incredible challenges, and I'm running for them."

Throughout her run, Romano will be raising money for World Pediatric Project at ZoeGoesRunning.com. World Pediatric Project provides pediatric surgical, diagnostic and preventative resources to heal critically ill children in developing countries. She aims to raise more than $100,000 through her PlanG fundraising page, a website that creates one central location to give to more than one million nonprofits. Zoe has also partnered with Zoes Kitchen, a Mediterranean Fast Casual concept. Donations can be made at 85 Zoes Kitchen locations across the United States. With each $5 donation made, $5 is shared for a future visit.

"Each person that hears about this project is awed and inspired. We just can't wait to hug her when she crosses the finish," said Susan Rickman, CEO of World Pediatric Project. "The money raised during the campaign will send four pediatric teams to developing countries on a week-long surgery mission and bring four children to the U.S. for more complex care."

Romano partnered with several sponsors for the run, including Zoes Kitchen, Health Warrior, Fuse Science, and PlanG. Each sponsor is rallying in support of the project and shares Zoe's passion for life.

Alexander Kreher, a VCU student and native German photographer and filmmaker, will join Romano for the duration of her run in France. His full-length documentary will debut upon completion. Romano and Kreher previously worked together on "Street Dreams" an award-winning short documentary about Romano's U.S. run.

Romano will be updating people as she runs the Tour de France through pictures and blogs at ZoeGoesRunning.com.



For more information about this project, please visit www.zoegoesrunning.com



About Zoe Romano

www.zoegoesrunning.com

www.facebook.com/zoegoesrunning


Romano is a runner and writer based out of Richmond, VA. In 2011 she ran 2,867 miles across the United States, alone, becoming the first female to ever complete such a trek without support vehicle and raising more than $15,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She has spoken at various youth-based events, been a guest of sports podcasts and radio shows, and is eager to hit the road again.

Romano first fell in love with running while a student at the University of Richmond, from where she graduated magna cum laude in 2009 with degrees in Spanish and International Studies. She currently writes an outdoor column for Philadelphia-based Ditch Magazine and tutors Spanish in Richmond, VA. On March 22, Romano was a featured speaker at TEDxRVA.

About World Pediatric Project

www.worldpediatricproject.org

www.facebook.com/worldpediatricproject

World Pediatric Project is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization founded and based in Richmond, Virginia, that provides surgical and diagnostic care to Central American and Caribbean children while creating and implementing programs to heal the children of tomorrow. This mission is accomplished by mobilizing hospitals and teams of generous pediatric specialists, who volunteer their time and expertise to help thousands of children who need critical care, yet have no access to it in their home countries. With the volunteer help of these dedicated doctors and nurses, World Pediatric Project brings children to partner hospitals in the U.S. and sends pediatric diagnostic and surgical teams to developing countries. Thousands of children have received direct services since 2001.

Contact:
Jennifer Curtis
Office: 804-282-8830
Mobile: 804-484-9325
E-mail: jcurtis@worldpediatricproject.org

SOURCE Zoes Kitchen

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/MM31409LOGO-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/MM31409LOGO-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Zoes Kitchen


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