Over $860,000 Raised at the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - June 26, 2016) - Over 6,500 people took part in the 18^th annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k on Sunday, June 26. The event raised more than $860,000 and counting for 81 local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This amount is a significant contribution to the $50 million raised nationally in the lifetime of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge since its inception in 2003.

Race day saw momentous victories on a sunny Vancouver morning as runners brought their best to the scenic course, stretching from UBC to Stanley Park. Kenyan-born Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alberta owned today's race, as he has since his Canadian debut in 2009, leading the men's pack and winning his fifth Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon in eight years with a time of 01:07:03. Kenya's Pius Kipsang Korir followed in second place, with Kangogo's fellow Kenyan Canadian, Willy Kimosop in third for the men's event.

Romanian born American, Adriana Nelson came to Vancouver looking for a half-marathon win, and led the women's pack from the beginning. She ran to victory three minutes clear of second place, Lindsay Tessier from Toronto.

"We would like to congratulate all of the runners in the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, especially those who participated in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and ran for causes close to their hearts," said Winnie Leong, Senior Vice President of the BC and Yukon Region at Scotiabank. "This marks a special year for the race here in Vancouver. With the support of the local community, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge reached a fundraising total of $860,000 and counting -- helping to take our national fundraising even further past the $50 million national fundraising milestone achieved this past week."

The race also saw record-breaking moments as Jason Cole and Rand Surbey broke the Guinness World Record for fastest half-marathon pushing a wheelchair. The powerhouse duo had a strong finish in the race and in their fundraising efforts, raising over $15,000 for the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. The Scotiabank Charity Challenge also saw a record broken as Cassie and Friends Society raised over $120,000 this year, surpassing the most a charity has raised through the Challenge in Vancouver, annually.