June 30, 2009 – Gold Medalist and Stand Up to Cancer Ambassador Shawn Johnson is proudly showing her support for cancer research by joining baseball greats Lou Brock, Rollie Fingers, Brooks Robinson and Vince Coleman to cheer on the participants at the first-ever All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike on Sunday, July 12. Johnson, a four-time medalist at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, will kick-start the event by beginning the race and encouraging fans as they complete the course. This event is part of the 2009 MLB All-Star Summer program dedicated to charitable initiatives and giving back to the community. All race related net proceeds will be donated equally to three charities—Stand Up To Cancer, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson represented the United States in gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Shawn finished as the women’s balance beam gold medalist, and earned three silver medals in the individual all-around competition, individual floor exercises, and with the American gymnastics team. Johnson competed in all four events for the team competition. She was honored with the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which is presented to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Most recently, Shawn appeared on season eight of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in which she, the youngest competitor in the history of the show, was named winner in the tightest finale in the show’s history.

All finishers will receive a commemorative All-Star medal and t-shirt with the top three male, female and wheelchair division finishers receiving Sports Authority and Nike gift cards. The winner of each of the three divisions will receive a 7” crystal Steuben Glass award engraved with the All-Star Charity 5K and Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike logo.

Participants will run and walk on a baseball-themed course featuring appearances by MLB legends and mascots. The course will begin at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals and host of the 2009 MLB All-Star Game, and will finish at America’s Center, home of Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest. The 5K portion of the event, which will be an officially timed event, will begin at 7:30 a.m. CT with the family-friendly 1.1 mile Fun Run starting at 8:00 a.m. CT. Sign up by July 2 and receive a discounted price of $30 (adult) and $25 (children 12 and under) for the 5K and $20 (adult) and $15 (children 12 and under) for the Fun Run. Space is limited, so participants are encouraged to sign up early. Registration and event information is available at www.allstargame.com. Information is also available at all nine St. Louis area Sports Authority locations.

The All-Star Charity 5K and Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike will be joining an All-Star Summer event line-up that focuses on giving back to the community including the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi benefiting Stand Up to Cancer; People “All-Stars Among Us,” a national campaign with PEOPLE Magazine that will recognize individuals who have served their communities in extraordinary ways; and in-stadium events highlighted by Gatorade All-Star Workout Day in which nearly $5 million will be donated to local and national charities through MLB Charities and Cardinals Care. The charity and community service initiatives, which will be themed “Going Beyond,” will be the most extensive in Major League Baseball All-Star history and will complement the celebration of history and traditions of Baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals.

About 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 14th in St. Louis and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League. Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which encourages Americans to engage in sustained and meaningful community service. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Busch Stadium. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 12th featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13th featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi benefiting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert for fans under The Gateway Arch featuring Sheryl Crow; the All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, a charity run on a baseball-themed route to benefit three cancer organizations; and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy, a free parade of All-Stars leading into Busch Stadium. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2009 All-Star Summer, visit www.allstargame.com.

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Contact: Sarah Leer or Dan Queen, Major League Baseball, (212) 931-7878