Lucasfilm, Nerdist Industries, and other partners will be inaugurating a lightsaber relay from Santa Monica to San Diego Comic-Con this July, to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This Olympic torch-style event will have racers passing the lightsaber every quarter mile as the relay winds through Southern California from July 7-11.
“Course of the Force” will start in Santa Monica and while the official lightsaber gets carried by a team of runners and walkers in their finest Star Wars and other geeky gear over five days, the event will be covered by Chris Hardwick of Nerdist through youtube and other Nerdist venues. Learn more about the event on CourseoftheForce.com, or watch hear it straight from “>Chris on youtube. Also, Chris Hardwick will be on Jimmy Fallon tonight, and talking about Course of the Force (or just lightsaber dueling Fallon).
“The Course of the Force lightsaber run is a great cause that combines fitness with helping others, principles that aspiring Jedi Knights can embrace. We have long supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and this is a great opportunity to raise funds and awareness while letting Star Wars fans celebrate their favorite saga,” said Kayleen Walters, Sr. Director of Marketing for Lucasfilm.
A limited number of running spots are available to the general public. The cost to sign up is $500 and 100% of registrations benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Runners will receive a Star Wars Ultimate FX lightsaber along with other gifts celebrating the Force and Comic Con.
Besides Lucasfilm and Nerdist Industries, the event is being managed by Octagon events while Machinima, the video entertainment network for gamers, will produce and simulcast exclusive content through its video network and will provide promotion for the event.
“We aim to build on the excitement leading up to San Diego Comic-Con, to raise awareness for the wonderful Make-A-Wish Foundation and to ensure that Course of the Force becomes an evergreen part of the pop culture lexicon,” said Nerdist Industries’ principal and Course of the Force creator and executive director Peter Levin. “Partnering with Lucasfilm, Octagon and Machinima creates a trilogy of cachet, profile and execution expertise. As a wise green man might say, ‘succeed we will, for a good cause’.”
What better way to support a good cause and get down to San Diego for Comic-Con, which kicks preview night off on July 11 and goes through July 15.
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Twitter – @CourseoftheForce
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