HOUSTON, Nov. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lace up your sneakers! It's time for the third annual Trafigura Home Run, benefitting Ronald McDonald House Houston which provides loving, home-like environments to families with seriously ill children being treated in Texas Medical Center member institutions. This 10K run and 5K run/family walk takes place on Saturday, December 1^st at Buffalo Bayou Linear Park on Allen Parkway and Sabine Street.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121130/DA21582)

The 10K run begins at 7:30AM and the 5K run begins at 7:45AM; both are USATF certified. The 5K family walk also begins at 7:45AM and is open to families and dogs and will be led by RMH Houston resident dog Mogie. Both races culminate at Buffalo Bayou Linear Park with an award ceremony and family-friendly after party for all participants and spectators, emceed by Natalie Bomke of Fox26 News.

Near and dear to the heart of Trafigura's Houston office, the Ronald McDonald House has been a home away from home to several employees – Christian Diaz and Bruce Mann among them–, while their children were ill. Christian and Sandra Diaz stayed at the Texas Children's Hospital house while their six year old daughter underwent brain surgery. Bruce and his wife Abby stayed at the RMH Houston House inside Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital when their twins were born four months early.

"With so much on our minds, we did not want to leave our daughter, but having a place to rest inside the hospital was very comforting for my family. Being able to share moments with other families that were experiencing the same pain, having a home cooked meal, and all the little things we take for granted were given by caring staff at Ronald McDonald House Houston," said Christian and Sandra Diaz.

The Manns echoed a similar experience. "Your donations to this charity change people's lives and allow parents to spend more time with their children.  I can't tell you how much it meant to my wife and me to have hundreds of hours of additional time with both our son and daughter because of RMH Houston," said Bruce and Abby.

The fee for all runs is $35 and each runner will receive a commemorative t-shirt. Packet pickup will be at Luke's Locker located at 1953 West Gray on November 29-30. Registration is also available the day of the race from 6:30-7:00 am at Buffalo Bayou Linear Park. To register, visit www.active.com and search for "Houston's Ronald McDonald House" in the upcoming events.  For more Trafigura Home Run information, visit www.rmhhomerun.com.

Ronald McDonald House Houston (RMH Houston) offers a home away from home providing care, compassion and hope to families with seriously ill children being treated in Texas Medical Center member institutions. We have three Houses: a 50-bedroom House on Holcombe Blvd, 20-bedroom House inside Texas Children's Hospital, and 14-bedroom House inside Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, as well as four family rooms inside Texas Children's Hospital and a "Cookie Corner" inside the Children's Cancer Hospital at M.D. Anderson. Visit www.rmhhouston.org for more information.

About the Trafigura Foundation

Launched in 2007, the Trafigura Foundation supports sustainable development programs in more than 30 countries. The Foundation's vision is a world where people reach their full potential through self-sustaining solutions, of which they can gradually take full ownership. Helping people help themselves through income-generating activities is central to the Foundation's mandate and its desire to create a sustainable model for corporate philanthropy.

From improving the lives of remote rural communities in China to supporting the development of social enterprises in Africa, and from promoting the inclusion of young people with disabilities in Argentina to providing vocational training to marginalized youth in the US, the Trafigura Foundation ensures genuine impact on individuals and communities

For more information, please visit the new Trafigura Foundation website at: www.trafigurafoundation.com

Trafigura is a global leader in international commodities trading and logistics. Through the Trafigura Foundation, close to USD 21 million has been dedicated to charity and philanthropy since 2007.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Ronald McDonald House Houston:
Catie Tuley (ctuley@rmhhouston.org)
T: 713.795.3583

Trafigura press office:
media.americas@trafigura.com
T: 832 320 2871

SOURCE Trafigura Foundation