Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/03/2010 -- Owen Berry, a 1-year-old Dallas resident and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) patient, will serve as a 2010 Patient Champion for the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon benefiting TSRHC. The Patient Champions serve as young ambassadors for TSRHC, representing thousands of patients treated at the hospital each year. Runners can create their own online pledge page in honor of our six patient champions, to encourage support from friends and family, with all donations benefiting TSRHC.

Since 1997, the hospital has been the primary beneficiary of the Dallas White Rock Marathon, which includes a full and half marathon, 5-person relay and the SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge presented by Behringer Harvard. This year's marathon will take place on December 5.

About Owen Berry
"Exceptionally strong and incredibly joyous," as his mom describes him, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children patient Owen, 1 year old of Dallas, has done more than most toddlers his age. In 2009, he inspired his parents to bring together a group of friends and family, made up of 30 runners and 50 cheering fans known as Team Owen, to show their support of him and TSRHC through the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon. In December 2008, Owen's father Jonathan ran the full marathon on a whim, not knowing that the marathon benefits TSRHC. Less than two months after Owen's parents discovered that he had a right clubfoot http://www.tsrhc.org/clubfoot-foot-disorders.htm, and they were referred to TSRHC for treatment. With TSRHC's Center for Excellence in Clubfoot Research http://www.tsrhc.org/center-for-excellence-in-clubfoot-research.htm and as a leader among a handful of facilities in the nation that provide two non-operative treatment methods, Owen was in luck. Doctors at TSRHC began casting Owen at 2 weeks old. For three months, Owen wore shoes connected by a bar in the center for 23 hours a day and now only wears the brace at night while he sleeps. A happy and carefree toddler, Owen is learning how to walk independently, and his family continues to support him and other patients treated at TSRHC through Team Owen.

About the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon
Voted the top marathon and half marathon in the state by Competitor Texas magazine, the MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon features a scenic course that includes a flat and fast 10-mile loop around White Rock Lake, and is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. With a new start and finish in Fair Park, the 2010 race will provide runners, volunteers and family members with added parking and maneuverability, while maintaining the same great running experience it's had for the last 40 years. The primary beneficiary of the weekend events is Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit the official MetroPCS Dallas White Rock Marathon website at http://www.runtherock.com.