Course of the Force Partners with Otter Pops
Otter Pops to Sponsor Runner Giveaway

SANTA MONICA, CA (June 29, 2012) – Course of the Force is proud to announce a partnership with Otter Pops, the fun, iconic freezer pop  brand from The Jel Sert Company, for the inaugural lightsaber relay. The partnership includes branded on-site activities and an exciting opportunity for fans to carry the official event lightsaber during one segment of the Course of the Force through an online Facebook promotion courtesy of Otter Pops. The Course of the Force is a five-day relay, July 7-11, for Star Wars™ enthusiasts to celebrate their love of the Saga. The event is held in partnership with Lucasfilm, Ltd., Nerdist Industries and Octagon to raise proceeds for Make-A-Wish®.

Otter Pops has delighted generations for over 40 years with six zippy flavors and lovable Otter characters. The brand plans to bring this same fervor to a great event for charity. Through the partnership, Otter Pops will be on location to create an original otterly awesome experience for Course of the Force participants. Otter Pops will be at each relay stop, offering item giveaways and keeping event-goers cool with free freezer pops.

In addition to these activities, Otter Pops is offering a sweepstakes where fans will have the chance to enter to win a free running spot in the inaugural epic relay.  Fans can head to the Course of the Force Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CourseOfTheForce) now through July 1 to enter.

“Otter Pops is an awesome addition for Course of the Force,” Nerdist Industries’ principal and Course of the Force creator and executive director Peter Levin said. “The Otter Pops brand is a perfect fit with the atmosphere of Course of the Force and their freezer pops will refresh fans and celebrities throughout the event. Otter Pops’ generous Facebook giveaway is an exciting way to give even more fans the opportunity to experience the journey.”

Participants must be at least 18 years or older and a California resident living within 100 miles of Huntington Beach to participate.

The Course of the Force is similar to an Olympic torch relay, except participants come dressed in their favorite Star Wars or popular culture-themed costumes and hand off a custom Hasbro Ultimate FX Lightsaber at quarter-mile markers to the next runner. On July 7, Course of the Force will kick off with an event at the Santa Monica Pier at 10:00 a.m. The relay will start later in the day and end that night at the Redondo Beach Pier. Other planned stops include Huntington Beach Pier, Oceanside and Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach.

Fans have the opportunity to participate in the historic lightsaber relay by registering online now at CourseoftheForce.com. One hundred percent of runner proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish chapters of San Diego, Greater Los Angeles, and Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Giving the event a true fan’s touch, Nerdist Industries’ founder Chris Hardwick will be joined by co-hosts Ashley Eckstein of Her Universe and Alison Haislip of Nerdist. They will follow the action from the Course of the Force lead vehicle, a replica of Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge, and broadcast to fans across the world on StarWars.com  and the Nerdist YouTube channel (youtube.com/nerdist). They will be joined by special guests from the Saga and pop-culture to put on an epic celebration for both the fans in attendance and watching online.

DAILY RELAY SCHEDULE

*All times approximate and subject to change. The concluding event at the Balboa Theatre is a ticketed event. All other events mentioned in schedule are free to the public.

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