In commemoration of the 76th anniversary of D-Day and the museum’s 20th anniversary, The National WWII Museum and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic recently concluded the inaugural WWII Liberty Road Challenge to honor the route Allied Forces took to liberate France in the summer of 1944. The Liberty Road Challenge finished with 2,996 participants who logged more than 588,000 miles – enough miles to traverse the 712-mile route from Sainte-Mere-Eglise to Bastogne that Allied Forces took to liberate France more than 825 times.
For the past four months, runners, walkers, joggers and even bicyclists successfully tackled the novel virtual challenge either individually or as part of a team. Individuals completed a 100-mile virtual course honoring the route from Sainte-Mere-Eglise to Saint-Malo in France. Teams finished a 712-mile virtual course divided up between team members that covered the entire route from Sainte-Mere-Eglise to Bastogne in France. Both individuals and teams were asked to log as many miles as possible during the virtual event.
A portion of the entry fees and 100% of donations from the challenge went directly to the world-renowned museum and its mission. In September, Crescent Classic Officials presented The National WWII Museum with a check of more than $80,000.
“The inaugural WWII Liberty Road Challenge was a smashing success from start to finish,” said WWII Liberty Road Challenge Director Eric Stuart. “It was our hope this new partnership with The National WWII Museum would raise awareness for the museum, honor WWII veterans and help keep people active during the ongoing COVID crisis.”
About Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic
The Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic 10k road race is held every year the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The Classic is locally produced and is a great way to get in shape while having fun. The 10-kilometer course (6.2 miles) begins in Downtown News Orleans in front of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, runs through the historic French Quarter, and then all the way up tree-lined Esplanade Avenue to City Park where a huge concert festival is held immediately following the event for all the runners and walkers. The CCC is preceded by a large two-day Health & Fitness Expo, which is free and open to the public the Thursday and Friday prior to the Race.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Steve Schulkens | 504.401.6990 | steve@schulkens.com
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