The USA Track & Field announced on Monday, October 29th that runners and walkers raised $714 million for charity in 2006. This is an increase of nearly 9 percent from 2005. There have been steady increases each year since the USATF began their annual charity survey five years ago.

The USATF gathered data from about 200 running and walking events including some of the country’s largest events.

“The continued growth of charity fundraising in the current economic climate shows the dedication of charity runners and walkers to their cause, as well as the strength of road running in this country,” said USATF CEO Craig A. Masback. “The phenomenon of running and fitness as a cultural, social and economic movement continues unabated. It is only a matter of time before the billion dollar mark becomes the norm for this study.”

USATF Charitable Race of the Year: 2006, Nike Women’s Marathon; 2005, J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series; 2004, Rock & Roll Marathon; 2003, Marine Corps Marathon; 2002, Boston Marathon.

USATF Charitable Organization of the Year: 2006, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; 2005, Arthritis Foundation; 2004, American Heart Association Heart Walk; 2003, Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure; 2002, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training.

Charity amounts raised: 2006, $714 million; 2005, $656 million; 2003, $575 million; 2003, $560 million; 2003, $520 million.

USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the U.S.A.. USATF is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization. Their mission is “to foster sustained competitive excellence, interest, and participation in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking.”

Source: USA Track & Field