Beaverton, OR -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/17/2014 -- Assistance League® of Greater Portland (http://www.portland.assistanceleague.org) announced that Jason Zacher plans to run solo the Epic Oregon Relay (http://epicrelays.com/oregon-relay/) to help local school children by raising money for the Assistance League’s Operation School Bell®. program.
(http://www.portland.assistanceleague.org/ps.morephilanthropicprograms.cfm?ID=3121) With a course of nearly 200 miles, teams of 12 racers customarily run the Epic Oregon Relay. Zacher plans to run the entire course by himself. “Jason’s Epic Adventure” kicks off a day in advance of the relay, at 2 pm on Thursday, June 19th at Big Al’s Fun Center in Beaverton, Ore. He hopes to raise $7500 to clothe 100 students.

During the Epic Oregon Relay, each runner typically runs 3 legs over a 24-hour span, for a total of 11 to 21 miles per person. Zacher hopes to complete his ultramarathon run when the relay runners arrive at the finish line to celebrate at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Ore. on the afternoon of June 21st.“I hope to finish in less than 48 hours but I really have no idea how long it will take,” muses Zacher. At 187 miles, the run is 87 miles longer than his previous charity run. Jason will be the first runner to attempt the Epic Oregon Relay as a solo marathon.

Funds raised in Jason’s Epic Adventure will benefit Operation School Bell, which provides new clothing for children in low-income families in Beaverton and Hillsboro, enabling them to attend school, dressed and ready to learn. Operation School Bell is administered by the member volunteers of Assistance League® of Greater Portland. Of the students that qualify for free and reduced price lunches, those most in need are referred by school counselors to the Assistance League. The elementary school children visit the Operation School Bell’s clothing distribution centers to select two pairs of jeans, two shirts, socks, underwear and a winter jacket. They are also given a voucher for shoes and an age appropriate book. “I was touched after visiting their facilities and seeing where the kids get to pick out their clothes and knew right then I wanted to help out as much as I could,” pens Zacher on his website.

To read more about Jason’s Epic Adventure or make a donation, go to http://www.jasonsepicadventure.com.

About Assistance League of Greater Portland
Assistance League of Greater Portland has served the local community with philanthropic programs since 1965. Over 11,600 students in Beaverton and Hillsboro have received clothing in the local Operation School Bell program since its inception in 1998.Throughout the coming year, Assistance League of Greater Portland will be celebrating 50 years of philanthropic service in the local community. In addition to donations and grants, the programs are funded through the all volunteer staffed Assistance League Thrift and Consignment Shops at 4000 SW 117th in Beaverton, Ore.