LAUNCH: RED CROSS MURRAY MARATHON 2003

Identifiers:
Steve Peuschel:  white bib/blue ford cap/white boat/blond hair
Ivor Morgan:   yellow Australian uniform/black top/brown boat/beanie
Micheal Leverett: yellow Australian uniform/blue top/black boat/cap
Tegan Fraser:   blond hair, thin, freckles, positioned on right in double shots
Ella Carrie:  blond hair, positioned to the left in double shots
Bob Badham:  white hair, Murray Marathon t-shirt
School Groups: white bibs

Lead:
Organisers of this year's Red Cross Murray Marathon may be wishing for better conditions, but the rain did not dampen the spirits of the Australian Canoeing team and paddlers like Steve Peuschel and Tintern Girls Grammar who turned out to Footscray Amateur Canoe Club today, urging paddlers across the country to take on one of Australia's greatest sporting challenges.

Vision: Start of mock-race  / birds eye view / Steve Peuschel close-ups

Starting in Yarrawonga on December 27 each year and finishing five days later on New Year's Eve in Swan Hill, the world's longest annual canoe race, the Red Cross Murray Marathon, celebrates a special miletone in 2003 as it turns 35.

A true Australian sporting institution, the Red Cross Murray Marathon annually attracts 1,000 paddlers and 4,000 supporters from all over the world, eager to take on the mighty Murray River challenge.  And the Red Cross are urging all past, present and new paddlers to take on the challenge in 2003.

Vision: Paddle past camera, focus on Australian Team members Ivor Morgan paddling / wide shot

Taking a break from training, members of the Australian National Canoeing Team turned out to help launch the Red Cross Murray Marathon. 

Leaving for Spain next week for the 2003 World Championships, current winning Red Cross Murray Marathon K1 Cup Relay team anchor Ivor Morgan (left) and National K1 Champion Michael Leverett (right) are leading the Aussie charge, competing together in the K2's and Michael alone is attempting to go one better than his last attempt in 2001, and take out the World K1 title.

Grab: (paraphrased): Ivor Morgan "Our aim and obviously goal is to win world champs...Michael more experience...best performance... enjoying it."

Grab: (paraphrased): Ivor Morgan "The Red Cross marathon...changed my focus...tried out for K2...enjoyed challenge."

Grab: (paraphrased): Michael Leverett "The World Champs were cancelled last year so now more motivated..."

Vision: Steve Peuschel interview

Joining the Australian Canoeing team at the Marathon launch is double lung transplant survivor Steve Peuschel.  [NB: Steve suffers from the genertic disease Cystic Fibrosis]

Steve, like hundreds of others, is participating in this year's Marathon as a personal challenge, but is also officially launching his own organisation, the Lilly Foundation, which is dedicated to raising money and awareness of people requiring organ transplants.

Grab: (paraphrased) Steve Peuschel "I think the Murray Marathon will be huge challenge...if I can do, anyone can do it."

Grab: (paraphrased) Steve Peuschel "Five months ago I had a double lung transplant...I could basically do nothing...now I'm standing here preparing for marathon...amazing what transplant has done, such a huge difference to my life."

Grab: (paraphrased) Steve Peuschel "My aim for the Murray Marathon...get to start line...completing race a bonus...looking forward to getting out there, having a go...raising money."

INSERT FOR PRIME NSW / WIN SHEPPARTON

Bendigo local Tegan Fraser and Albury paddler Ella Carrie will join Michael and Ivor at the World Champs.  Tegan, pegged as a rising star by Australian Canoeing is tipped to take home the world junior K1 Title.

Grab: (paraphrased) Tegan Fraser "At the World Champs I'm competing in the single and double...aim for top five...enjoy my time over there."

Grab: (paraphrased) Tegan Fraser "The Murray marathon has helped me...good base training...very long...very endurance based...very challenging..."

Ella Carrie of Albury is competing in her second World Champs, this time as a senior.

Grab: (paraphrased) Ella Carrie "At the world Champs I'm in the ladies open class in the doubles...hoping to finish in the top five...."

Grab: (paraphrased) Ella Carrie "I'm looking forward to going...a bit nervous, don't know what to expect...."

WRAP-UP

Paddlers across Australia are urged to start training and enter the Red Cross Murray Marathon now.  The Red Cross hopes to raise $200,000 to help fund Australian Red Cross emergency services and community programs.

Vision: Interview with Bob Badham, Murray Marathon Committee Chairman

Grab: (paraphrased) Bob Badham "We're certainly hoping to exceed 1,000 paddler mark this year....35th year...attract old paddler back and hope they bring new paddlers...ensure future of marathon"

Vision: canoes /signage / crowd / paddlers launching / Steve paddling

To find out more or to enter the Red Cross Murray Marathon visit www.redcross.org.au.

- ends -

For further media information please contact:

Rachel Froggatt
Murray Marathon Media Team
M: 0421 059 781
rfroggatt@prismteam.com.au

Roberto Venturini
Murray Marathon Media Team
M: 0404 867 468
rventurini@prismteam.com.au