Samuel Goldwyn Films and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team Up

Samuel Goldwyn Films and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team Up

National Screening Series for upcoming film Saint Ralph to help raise awareness

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldwyn Films is partnering up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training(R) program to raise awareness for the organization through a national screening series showing Michael McGowan's upcoming film, the inspirational comedy SAINT RALPH.

SAINT RALPH tells the story of a 14-year old boy (Adam Butcher) who overcomes great odds to train and run the Boston Marathon, the miracle he thinks he needs, in order to save his dying mother. Team In Training trains athletes and non-athletes to participate in major endurance sporting events in order to raise money for cancer research and patient services.

Team In Training will invite local "patient honorees" and alumni to special sneak preview screenings around the country. The honorees will also speak to audiences about the program and help register new volunteers and participants.

"We are very excited to partner with The Leukemia & Lymphoma's Team in Training program. Our hope is to create more awareness for this wonderful organization by screening SAINT RALPH and to inspire people to create their own 'miracles,'" notes Samuel Goldwyn Jr, Chairman of Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Kate Giblin, National Director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program states that "the film's themes: hope, inspiration, setting a specific and challenging goal, are entirely analogous to the TNT experience. And of course, a story that inspires others to train to run a marathon is an unforeseen positive outcome of the movie. The opportunity to motivate filmgoers to join the Team and help raise funds for lifesaving cancer research is truly a win-win!"

SAINT RALPH stars Campbell Scott, Adam Butcher, Jennifer Tilly and Gordon Pinsent. It is written and directed by Michael McGowan, a Detroit Marathon winner in 1985. Executive producers are Peter Sussman and Marguerite Piggot and producers are Seaton McLean, Andrea Mann, Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence. The film premiered at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and is scheduled to open on August 5, 2005.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training:

In 1988, a young investment banker from New York, inspired by his baby daughter's battle with leukemia, trained to run the New York City Marathon. Bruce Cleland's inaugural team raised $320,000 for blood cancer research and Team In Training was born. Every year, 35,000 people join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. They train for a major endurance sports event and raise funds for lifesaving cancer research and services for patients and their families. Like Saint Ralph, TNT participants set an extraordinary goal for themselves, and then achieve it. The motivation to achieve the goal comes from outside themselves, to help others who are engaged in a battle for life. To find out more visit http://www.teamintraining.org/

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $426 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made over 2.4 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

About Samuel Goldwyn Films:

Samuel Goldwyn Films is an independently owned motion picture company with the scope of a major studio and the heart of an independent distributor. The company is committed to the development, production and distribution of innovative feature films and documentaries.

Upcoming theatrical releases include Michael McGowan's inspirational SAINT RALPH, PRETTY PERSUASION, starring Evan Rachel Wood, MARILYN HOTCHKISS' BALLROOM DANCING AND CHARM SCHOOL with Marisa Tomei and Mary Steenburgen, Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's MIRRORMASK and the critically acclaimed THE SQUID AND THE WHALE by Noah Baumbach. Current releases include Eytan Fox's acclaimed political thriller WALK ON WATER, the highest grossing Israeli film in U.S. box office history and the erotically charged LILA SAYS. Recently released films include the Academy Award nominated SUPER SIZE ME, the Academy Award nominated EL CRIMEN DEL PADRE AMARO, the 5-time Independent Spirit Award nominated RAISING VICTOR VARGAS and the 10-time Academy Award nominee, MASTER AND COMMANDER.

Source: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

CONTACT: Nicolette Aizenberg of Samuel Goldwyn Films - NY, +1-212-367-9435, or Tiffany Bair of Samuel Goldwyn Films - LA, +1-310-860-3126; or Andrea Greif of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, +1-914-821-8958

Web site: http://www.lls.org/ http://www.teamintraining.org/

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