Academy-Award-Winning Film Team Shares Passion Project with Runners Across the Country In Spirit of the Marathon II Debut
 
Contact: Natalie Bisaro, 708-434-5006, natalie@wilkspr.com

CHICAGO, June 4, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Every time I open the tap and see clean water come out, my heart is filled with joy. I never believed that we could get such a thing," says one African mother of three who is featured in This Water is Beautiful, a 10-minute documentary short on the importance of clean water and the role Team World Vision plays in providing it. The film will premier with Spirit of the Marathon II in 700+ theaters across the country on June 12 (7:00 p.m. local) with hundreds of Team World Vision runners and race leaders in attendance.

Produced by Jon Dunham, This Water is Beautiful was largely filmed during Dunham's 2012 visit to South Africa and Rwanda. While collecting international race footage for Spirit of the Marathon II -- the highly anticipated sequel to the 2008 award-winning documentary Spirit of the Marathon -- Dunham saw World Vision's work in communities without access to clean water. Moved by his experience, Dunham dedicated his documentary's remaining minutes of film time to showcase Team World Vision's runners, mission and impact.

"In the sea of humanity at the start of every big city marathon, each individual has reasons to run that go beyond 26.2 miles," says 25-time marathoner Dunham. Michael Chitwood, National Director of Team World Vision, adds, "These runners aren't just accomplishing a huge goal by running a marathon, they're literally saving lives with every mile. Lack of access to safe water causes more preventable deaths than anything else on the planet -- and we know how to fix it."

This Water is Beautiful features three Team World Vision runners who have chosen to run with the organization for clean water in Africa:

• Lauren Wilgus, the Reluctant Runner - used to skip school the day of the mile run
   
• Justin Knight, the Seasoned Runner -- has run 12 marathons since 2007
   
• Josh Cox, the Professional Runner - 50k American record holder, four-time US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and three-time U.S. National Team member

Presented by NCM Fathom Events and Competitor Group, Spirit of the Marathon II was created by marathon runners and accomplished filmmakers Jon Dunham (director) and Gwendolen Twist (producer), who led a team that includes three-time Academy Award® winner Mark Jonathan Harris (executive producer) and Academy Award® nominee Megan Williams (producer). The film features inspirational stories from seven motivated competitors running the famed 26.2 mile Rome Marathon, including marathon greats Stefano Baldini, Paula Radcliffe, Frank Shorter and Kathrine Switizer. Audiences will be transported to six countries for an intimate "up close and personal" look into the runners' lives and the challenges they face -- both physical and emotional -- on an epic journey where finishing the Rome Marathon is anything but certain.

Tickets for the Spirit of the Marathon II and This Water is Beautiful premier are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website. Theaters and participants are subject to change. The event will be broadcast to more than 600 select movie theaters across the country through NCM's exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

NOTE: Photos and interviews with Team World Vision, producer Jon Dunham, This Water is Beautiful marathoners or local Team World Vision runners and race leaders attending the premier available upon request. Early access to This Water is Beautiful and movie passes to Spirit of the Marathon II are available to media on a case by case basis.

About Team World Vision:
Team World Vision empowers groups and individuals to dedicate their sports and fitness goals to helping World Vision's work in Africa. Participants select the activity of their choice, and then register online at www.teamworldvision.org, where they access instructions for designing a fundraising web page, get tips and templates for fundraising, and get information about how the funds will be used. Next, they email their fundraising page link to friends, family, and colleagues, inviting them to make a donation. Donations are securely transacted online, and participants can view a list of their supporters and their messages, as well as their fundraising totals. 

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit WorldVision.org/press or follow us on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews.

Contact:
Natalie Bisaro
Wilks Communications
708-434-5006
natalie@wilkspr.com