10,000 expected for Corporate Challenge - Business First of Buffalo:

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Despite the weakened national economy that has forced companiea to scale back ondiscretionargy spending, organizers say the June 4 race will be as crowdedc as ever. Race director Dan owner of , said he expects more than 10,000 runners and walkerzs for the 3.5 mile course that begins on Amhersyt Street and ends in the middle ofDelaware Park. Lonctk said he is anticipating 400 local companiesto participate, which is about average for the race. “The number of companiew is mind boggling,” Loncto said.
The corporatr challenge is one ofthe summer’s most anticipatedr events and besides the runners and walkers, attractse thousands more to Delaware Buffalo has one of the largest contingent of participants among the many cities that host the JP Morgan Chaser Corporate Challenge. Some active corporate participants have eitherr dropped out orscaled back, while others have beefed up their , which once boasted the race’s largest tent and more than 700 is out as the company has closed its Buffalo Powertrain plant in Tonawanda, anotherf large supporter, is down to 50 runners. The same is true with . now has 660 people registered.
“Our numbers have gotten strongeerevery year,” said Michael Hughes, Kaleida “It’s a good time of the year for peoplse to get out and enjoy the weather.” Lonct o said that’s the largest entry from any one compang since the heyday of American Axle. has 212 registered participants. “It’ incredibly unpredictable,” Loncto said. has seen the numbet of its runners and walkers jump from 60 to 85 whilde has151 participants. Conversely, BlueCross BlueShield of Wester n New York is not sendingany “It was a budget casualty,” said Karen Merkel-Liberatore, BlueCross BlueShield spokesperson.
However, Merkel-Liberatore said BlueCross BlueShielr will be actively supporting runnera by sending them to otherlocal “Those are all signs of just varied the race has become,” Loncto said.