NEWS RELEASES
Houston Radio DJ Kevin Kline Completes 500-mile, 13-Day Ultramarathon Across Texas for Kids with Cancer

Kline trained for entire year to run “Strides Across Texas” benefiting Texas Children’s Cancer Center

HOUSTON (Jan. 1, 2010) – To what lengths is someone willing to go for a cause they are passionate about? For Houston radio personality Kevin Kline, it’s running nearly 500 miles in 13 days.

Kline rang in the New Year by giving back to kids with cancer when he successfully finished his extraordinary solo ultramarathon across the state of Texas, benefiting Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

Kline finished his run on the steps of Texas Children’s Hospital where he was received by hundreds of cheering supporters including hospital staff, patients, families and fans. More than 50 Texas Children’s Cancer Center patients and survivors completed the last block of the run with Kline, who was also escorted into the Texas Medical Center by hundreds of Harley Davidson motorcycle riders.

Starting in Dallas on December 20, Kline ran up to 10 hours daily braving the wind, rain, cold and hills through Austin and San Antonio, finishing his journey in his hometown of Houston. Kline’s ambitious undertaking is the first of its kind in Texas and all proceeds benefit research and patient services at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. 

Through his run, Kline hopes to raise awareness about pediatric cancer throughout Texas and to provide a visible reminder that everyone can make a difference and create hope for a child with cancer. He hopes his effort will motivate more people to support the research that will find a cure for pediatric cancer.

“I ran for all of the children at Texas Children’s Cancer Center who have so profoundly touched my life with their courage and strength,” said Kline. “I was motivated to start and finish this run so that with each stride, I could help bring organizations like Texas Children’s one step closer to a cure.”

Well known on the local radio scene, Kevin Kline is the president and founder of Snowdrop Foundation, which raises money for Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Foundation funding supports the center’s cutting edge work in pediatric cancer research, provides twice annual weekend excursions for patients and awards college scholarships to pediatric cancer patients and childhood cancer survivors.

“Kevin’s tireless passion and commitment to Texas Children’s Cancer Center is so apparent in every venture he takes on and every effort he makes to create awareness about pediatric cancer. We feel so fortunate to have someone as tremendously devoted as Kevin as our friend and supporter,” said Dr. David Poplack, medical director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

All donations made to Strides Across Texas benefit Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the largest pediatric cancer and hematology research and treatment center in the country. Texas Children’s Cancer Center ranks 4th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, making the center # 1 in Texas. Children come to the cancer center from across the nation and around the world for state-of-the art treatments, many of which are unavailable elsewhere.

To learn more about Texas Children’s Cancer Center, visit www.txccc.org. For more information about Texas Children's Hospital, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children’s Hospital by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tch_news.