Hip Hop Star ‘P. Diddy’ To Run NYC Marathon To Raise $1 Million for Education, Health Care, HIV/AIDS Groups

Hip hop star Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on Tuesday announced that he will run the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 2 to help raise funds for education and health care charities, including HIV/AIDS programs, Reuters reports (Reuters, 9/30). Combs hopes his initiative, called "Diddy Runs the City," will raise $1 million through corporate and individual donations for groups, including Daddy's House Social Programs, a youth-oriented organization founded by Combs, and Children's Hope Foundation, a volunteer-based group aimed at meeting the medical and social needs of HIV/AIDS-affected youth. Combs has assembled a "host committee" of celebrities -- including actress Sarah Jessica Parker, rapper Jay-Z, hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, designer Calvin Klein and baseball player Derek Jeter, among others -- to help raise awareness and funds by participating in public service announcements and donating items for auction ("Diddy Runs the City" release, 9/30). Combs also is being supported by corporate sponsors such as Nike, McDonald's and MTV Networks, according to Reuters (Reuters, 9/30).

Motivating Others, Raising Awareness
Combs said, "Every child needs ... proper health care in order to succeed in their own 'Marathon of Life,'" adding, "Children are our future, and they are not receiving the education and health care that is imperative for their growth. My hope is that by running the ING New York City Marathon this year, I not only raise money for these charities, but I also raise people's consciousness about these critical social issues and motivate others to act." Children's Hope Foundation Executive Director Scott Cotenoff said, "HIV and AIDS continue to devastate young people and families throughout the New York City metropolitan area, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. This initiative will have a significant impact on their lives by raising awareness of their plight and by generating considerable resources to help meet their needs." The race is scheduled for Nov. 2, according to a "Diddy Runs the City" release. MTV has said it will produce a two-part documentary about Combs' "training, preparation and fundraising efforts," the first part of which is set to air on Oct. 30 and the second part of the which is scheduled to air on Nov. 8 ("Diddy Runs the City" release, 9/30).