BINGHAMTON, NY - Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala and Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan were joined by STOP-DWI Coordinator Jim May for a news conference Wednesday morning to announce details of this year’s Chris Thater Memorial. The event is scheduled to kick off Saturday morning from Recreation Park in Binghamton. The complete schedule can be accessed at www.bcstopdwi.com.

The Chris Thater is in its 23rd year. The event attracts more than 1,500 athletes from around the world and more than 12,000 spectators.

New York State’s I LOVE NEW YORK campaign is the premier sponsor for the event. The partnership is a tremendous opportunity to further promote the 23 year mission of the Chris Thater Memorial while at the same time highlighting a major summer event in the Greater Binghamton region of New York State.

Chris Thater was an avid cyclist who was killed by a drunk driver. Jim May has dedicated this sporting event in Chris’ memory and in the process he has created a tremendously effective tool for spreading the anti drunk driving message.

“The Chris Thater Memorial is a success on so many levels and much of the credit for that must go to Jim May,” said Executive Fiala. “I want to thank Jim for the work he does year round to bring this major event to our community. I also want to thank all of the sponsors, especially, I Love NY. The sponsor support has allowed the Chris Thater Memorial to become a premier cycling and running competition and a successful community event.”

“I’m proud the Chris Thater Memorial has become a highly respected stop for both runners and cyclists and I’m proud this has become such a popular community attraction,” said Jim May, STOP-DWI Coordinator. “I’m equally proud we have been able to maintain our core mission which is to educate everyone, especially our young people, about the dangers of drinking and driving.”

The Chris Thater Memorial begins on Saturday at 11:30am with the Women’s Public Race. A number of different cycling and runnings divisions will race during the day Saturday and all day Sunday. The event will culminate on Sunday with the final race scheduled to start at 2:30pm. All races begin at Recreation Park in Binghamton. In addition to the races, a number of family fun activities will be taking place at the park on Sunday as part of the Chris Thater Memorial Expo.

Two concerts are also featured during this year’s Chris Thater Memorial. Groove Lily will perform at noon on Friday, August 25th at Courthouse Square in Downtown Binghamton and on Saturday at 6:30pm at Recreation Park, Big Leg Emma will perform. Both concerts and related events at Recreation Park are free and open to the public.

STOP-DWI stands for "Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated". The STOP-DWI Program was enacted by the State Legislature in 1981 for the purposes of empowering county governments to coordinate local efforts to reduce alcohol and other drug-related traffic crashes within the context of a comprehensive and financially self-sustaining alcohol and highway safety program.