(Monday, November 2, 2015 – Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) welcomes IT&E as a major telecommunication sponsor of the 2015 Ko’ko’ Weekend, which includes the 9th annual Guam Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 7, followed by the 10^th annual Guam Ko’ko’ Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay on Sunday, November 8, held at Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park (Ypao Beach) in Tumon.

GVB has received $10,000 dollars in support from IT&E during a recent check presentation at IT&E’s corporate office in the Harmon Industrial Park. As a major telecommunication sponsor, IT&E will provide the communications technology used to manage the races as well as prizes for the online promotion and post-race drawing.  Additionally, IT&E will award top-of-the-line Samsung Note 3 Tablets to the top three winners of the Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run and to the overall winner of the  Ko’ko Ekiden Relay Race Team.

ABOUT THE RACES

The Guam Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run on November 7 will include a 3K for 10 – 12 year-olds, 2K for 7 – 9 year-olds and 1K for 4 – 6 year-olds. Space is limited to the first 500 registrants.  Each finisher will receive a t-shirt and finisher’s medal.

The November 8 Guam Ko’ko’ race is a half marathon solo and a four-person ekiden relay road race, which starts and ends at Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park (Ypao Beach).  The half marathon solo race course showcases the villages of Tumon, Tamuning, Asan, and the capital city of Hagåtña.  The Ekiden Relay will consist of a 5k course that travels the same route as the half marathon, with the turn at the 1.5k mark in Tamuning near the United City Ticket Office.  Participants can expect cheering groups, water stops and entertainment along the race course.  Trophies will be awarded to top finishers in each category of the half marathon and ekiden relay race.  General online registration is open through November 3^rd at www.guamkokoroadrace.com or at the front desk of the Pacific Islands Club in Tumon.

The Ko’ko Half Marathon & Ekiden Relay is designed to increase awareness for the ko’ko’ bird, the indigenous Guam Rail. The Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources works to heighten awareness of the plight of the flightless bird and helps to preserve this endangered species.  Che’lu’ is the official mascot for the Guam Rail and interacts with the community of Guam and visitors endearing them to Guam’s territorial bird.