FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
39th ANNUAL KAISER PERMANENTE
NAPA VALLEY MARATHON
PRESENTS
“Irish Greg” McQuaid Running 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks
San Francisco radio personality is going the distance in 2017 to support lung health will run the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon Sunday March 5, 2017
Napa, CA (February 27, 2017) — On January 1, 2007 Greg McQuaid gave up cigarettes after 20 years of smoking a pack-a-day. A lifelong asthmatic and chronic bronchitis sufferer, he started to walk and then run to get in shape. After a while he found his stride and was taking part in marathons, even qualifying for the Boston Marathon.
Ten years later he’s taking his passion for running to another level with his commitment to run a marathon every week in 2017. While testing the limits of endurance he’ll also be raising funds for Breathe California Golden Gate, a San Francisco-based non-profit dedicated to fighting lung disease, advocating for clean air and promoting public health. McQuaid joined the Board of Directors of Breathe California in October 2016. Greg chose the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon and will run Sunday March 5th. The Marathon takes place along the beautiful Silverado Trail, from Calistoga, south to the finish line at Vintage High School in Napa, Napa Valley, California. McQuaid commented, “I couldn’t be happier to make the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon a part of my 52marathons52weeks. What a perfect race to promote lung health and clean air, a key mission of the charity I run for, Breathe California Golden Gate. Doing a marathon every week is hard but made so much easier when surrounded by thousands of others enjoying the clean air and beauty of the Napa Valley.”
“Joining the Board of Directors at Breathe California Golden Gate made me reflect on the changes I’ve made in my life and to my health in the space of 10 years,” said McQuaid. “What better way to encourage others to do the same than by undertaking this challenge? I’m hoping that someone will hear my story and decide that they too can stop smoking and have a healthier lifestyle. I’d also like to raise money for programs that encourage smoking prevention, cessation and advocate for clean air.”
For nearly 18 years, McQuaid was a popular host and producer at San Francisco radio station KFOG, where he was known to his listeners as “Irish Greg” (he was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland). San Francisco Weekly voted the show “Best Local Morning Radio Show” in 2001, 2002, and 2007. McQuaid’s work in radio also includes serving as producer and on-air talent on the KOSF Morning show with Don Bleu and the Alex Bennett Show on KITS Live 105. He’s conducted many notable interviews, including with Barack Obama, Robert Plant, David Bowie, Gavin Newsom, John McCain and Neil Young.
McQuaid is not new to innovative fundraising strategies. In 2015 he produced the #BoobProject charity song, which raised more than $100,000 for breast cancer research and featured world-known artists Hozier, Florence Welch, Grateful Dead and many more. Forbes Magazine named it the “Best Charity Song of 2015”.
“Greg is such an inspiration to all of us at Breathe California for his energy, passion and dedication to making the world a stronger, healthier place for everyone,” said Breathe California Golden Gate President and CEO Tanya Stevenson, EdD, MPH. “We are thrilled that the fight for healthy lungs and clean air will be advanced through his amazing marathon-a-week campaign.”
Every week, Greg will run a different route in the Bay Area (and beyond) and would appreciate as much support as possible
To support Greg’s efforts and see his upcoming routes, visit the 52 Marathons 52 Weeks webpage at www.52marathons52weeks.org
Registration and spectator information available at www.napavalleymarathon.org or (707) 255-2609. For more information, Marita Dorenbecher at 707 944-1373. Press is invited to cover the event. #KPNVM17
2017 Sponsors include: Kaiser Permanente, the Presenting Sponsor. ASICS America Corporation, Comcast Xfinity, Visit Napa Valley, Gatorade, USA Track & Field, MarathonFoto, RRCA, GU, KPIX Ch5 and the CW, KCBS AM and FM, KVYN and KVON Radio, the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa, Peets Coffee and Tea, Running USA, Whole Foods Market and Southgate Mini Storage
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