FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Australian Red Cross, Victoria is taking registrations for the annual Red Cross - Herald Sun Murray River Marathon today Sunday 14 December 2003 at Footscray Canoe Club, Farnsworth Avenue, Footscray (until 1pm).

Hundreds of keen paddlers are expected to register their details to participate in the 35th Murray Marathon which starts on December 27th in Yarrawonga and finishes on December 31st in Swan Hill.  The paddlers have all been training for weeks and months to tackle the challenging 404 kilometre course, which will take 5 days to complete.

All types of people are taking up the personal challenge from Olympians through to those who are just keen to get in and have a go.  They all have several underlying motivations: from wanting to personally challenge themselves through to supporting Australian Red Cross in its efforts to fundraise so that it can continue to provide essential community and emergency services.

Those who are unable to register on this Sunday are able to sign up on 26 December 2003 in Tocumwal.  Andrew Hilton, Executive Director, Australian Red Cross, Victoria said indications are that numbers will be up on last year.

"With the event being 35 years old this year it is anticipated that we will have record numbers participating.  The event originally started with 5 uni mates paddling the river all those years ago.  Thirty-five years later it has grown into a high profile event that enables Red Cross to provide services to those that are vulnerable in our community.

"The Marathon offers all types of people the chance to feel good about supporting Red Cross while having a really good and fun challenging sporting experience," said.Mr Hilton

-ENDS-