Regis & Kelly’s High Heel-A-Thon On July 9 To Benefit March of Dimes

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JUNE 13, 2008 – "Live with Regis and Kelly" will make its contribution to the pantheon of world athletic events by presenting the first-ever REGIS AND KELLY'S HIGH HEEL-A-THON, a 150-yard dash in New York City.   And it's for a wonderful cause:  proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes and its programs to give every baby a healthy start.  "Live" also has arranged for a special $50,000 donation in commemoration of the High Heel-a-Thon.

Unlike more run-of the-mill sprints, there's a shocking twist to this event:  all participants in the High Heel-A-Thon must wear high-heeled shoes during the competition, with a minimum of a 3-inch heel. 

"Live" is partnering with Dr. Scholl’s For Her® to present the event, which will take place in Central Park.  The official competition, for which participants will be sprinting for more than $30,000 in prize money and a variety of fun prizes, is open to women only, though men can enter a special honorary race category. 

       Entrants will not only compete against hundreds of other participants, but also they'll go up against shoe-loving co-host Kelly Ripa herself, who provided inspiration for the event.  "Marathon, schmarathon!  Completing 26.2 miles in running shoes is nothing -- try spending a full day running errands, taking the kids to school and shopping, all in 4-inch heels," Ripa declared.  "THAT'S what I call a real marathon!  So our High Heel-A-Thon is a way of showcasing a unique unsung talent for which most women are never recognized."

The March of Dimes extends a warm thank-you to our celebrity volunteers Michael Gelman, executive producer of the program, and wife Laurie Hibberd, whose daughter was born prematurely. Interested participants can register for Regis and Kelly's High Heel-A-Thon by logging on to liveregisandkelly.com or highheelathon.com.  The winning competitor will walk away with $25,000, with additional prize money offered to the second- and third-place finishers.

"Live with Regis and Kelly" is executive produced by Michael Gelman, and is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Produced by WABC-TV in New York, "Live with Regis and Kelly" airs every weekday morning in more than 200 markets across the country.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies^sm, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.