December 3, 2002

CONTACT:
Linda Simmons Hight
Media Relations Director
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329
Phone (323) 960-3500
Fax (323) 960-3508
E-mail mediarelationsdir@scientology.net

LOCAL MARATHONER RUNS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND TOLERANCE

Monrovia resident and well-known ultramarathoner John Radich will captain a team running 250 miles throughout Los Angeles December 10-14. The event is the L.A. Multathlon for Human Rights and Tolerance.

Radich’s core team of 20 runners are one of dozens of diverse ethnic, religious and community groups uniting to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To draw attention to the Declaration and its meaning for Los Angeles today, a “multathlon” (“many contests”) will start at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles December 10 and end with a concert in Hollywood five days and 250 miles later.

Participating in the Multathlon as runners or bicyclists will be County Sheriff Lee Baca leading a team from his office; individuals and teams from police and fire departments, city councils, churches and non-religious groups in every community along the multathlon route. Youth for Human Rights International, a L.A.-based organization dedicated to teaching human rights to young people, will be organizing activities specifically for teenagers and youngsters.

After the launch at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles at 9 a.m. December 10, individuals and teams from the participating communities will run, cycle, ride horseback, rollerblade and skateboard portions of the route, with the core team of athletes covering the entire 200 miles. The athletes will stop at Olvera Street, Chinatown, Koreatown, consulates on Wilshire Boulevard, the Museum of Tolerance, houses of worship of numerous denominations, police and fire stations and schools. At each location, signatures will be collected on the Multathlon Human Rights Proclamation to show support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and uniting Greater L.A.

The five days of events culminate Saturday, December 14 with a 3 p.m. grand finale festival and concert on L. Ron Hubbard Way in Hollywood near Sunset and Vermont.

The 2002 Multathlon is coordinated by the Church of Scientology International whose headquarters are in Hollywood, assisted by the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance. The event is supported by the L.A. Multathlon Advisory Committee which includes Friends of the United Nations and ethnic and religious leaders from throughout Southern California.

For more information, call (323) 661-1194 or visit HumanRightsAndTolerance.org

The Advisory Board:
Irving Sarnoff Friends of the United Nations
Norma Foster, United Nations Association of USA Pacific-Los Angeles Chapter
Rev. Leonard Jackson, First African Methodist-Episcopal Church Los Angeles
Rabbi Allen Freehling, Los Angeles Human Rights Commission
Lynsey Bartilson, Youth for Human Rights International
Susie Yellowhorse Jensen, Southern California Indian Center
Dr. Pouran Ameli, America Iranian Friendship Association
David L. Cardenas, San Gabriel Valley Council Boy Scouts of America
Geraldine Washington, NAACP Los Angeles Chapter
Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Kol Tikrah Temple
Judge Ellen DeShazer, Superior Court Judge
Nirinjan Singh Khalsa, Sikh Dharma of Southern California
Grand Master Tong Sak Chun, World Cultural & Sports Foundation Inc.
Rev. Janet Weiland, Church of Scientology International