Bride-to-Be and Bridesmaids Wedded to Running in Community College of Philadelphia 5K Race on Oct. 20

PHILADELPHIA, October 9, 2007 - Her maid of honor started it. Now, Rachael Rascoe of Dover, Pa. plans to finish it -- Community College of Philadelphia's Set the Pace to Educate 5K Race, Walk and Pooch 'N' Pal Stroll -- that is.

Two weeks before she ties the knot, Rascoe, 31, accompanied by her four bridesmaids, plans to run early Saturday morning, Oct. 20, along Philadelphia's scenic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the College's fourth annual race to raise money for scholarships and programs to benefit students.

This is not your usual bachelorette party. Rascoe has no idea what she will be wearing the day of the race. "My clothing is going to be provided by the bridesmaids," she said. "All I was told is that we will be able to be recognized." She also does not know what her bridesmaids will be wearing. "They will tell me nothing," she said with a laugh.

The idea was the brainchild of her maid of honor, Jessica Farina, 28, a graduate of Ridley High School in Folsom, Pa., where she ran track. Farina said come race day, runners will definitely know Rascoe is a bride-to-be. She said she wanted to start Rascoe's marriage off on the right foot, so to speak, so she and Rascoe searched the Internet for the location of a 5K race. The race at Community College of Philadelphia is what they found.

Considering that Rascoe is a 7th grade Math teacher, she said the Set the Pace to Educate Race seemed a perfect fit. The next step was getting all the bridesmaids to meet in Philadelphia the night before the race; no easy task, considering one of the bridesmaids is from Boston and the others are from Pennsylvania towns such as Scranton, Mt. Pocono and Hanover.

What do Rascoe's parents think of her plans? "They think I'm looney. They find it rather entertaining," Rascoe said.

Never very athletic in high school, Rascoe said she fell in love with running about two years ago and has since run four 5K races. Her best time was 35 minutes, which she hopes to meet or beat on Oct. 20.

The Community College of Philadelphia Set the Pace to Educate 5K Race, Walk and Pooch 'N' Pal Stroll is a fund-raiser for the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation, which provides scholarships for students and small grants to help faculty enhance the student experience inside and outside the classroom. The Foundation also provides emergency funds to help students buy textbooks, which can cost almost as much as tuition in some degree programs.

Last year, 273 people participated in the race. Some of the sponsors for this year's race include Fox Rothschild LLP, Independence Blue Cross, ABM Janitorial Services, Allied Barton Security Services, Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Gallagher Benefit Services, Eileen & Bill Whiteside, Binswanger, Freedom Credit Union, Heraeus Electro-Nite, Nutro Products Inc. and the Mark Thompson Family.

For more information on the race or to contribute to the Foundation, contact Elise Morgan at the College at 215-751-8042 or emorgan@ccp.edu.

Media Note: If you would like to interview Rachael Rascoe and/or Jessica Farina, please contact Anthony Twyman, the College's Media Relations Director, at (215) 751-8082.