UPDATE (5:31 p.m.): "While holding the race would not require diverting resources from the recovery effort, it is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division," Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement. "The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination. We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it. We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event - even one as meaningful as this - to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track."
UPDATE (5:18 p.m.): Several reports have confirmed that the NYC Marathon will not be run on Sunday.
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy battering on New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is dealing with heavy criticism over his decision to go ahead with the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 4.
The mayor said that the marathon will give people "something to cheer about in what's been a very dismal week for a lot of people."
"You have to keep going and doing things," he said, "and you can grieve, you can cry and you can laugh all at the same time. That's what human beings are good at."
New York Road Runners said the marathon will be a "Race to Recover" and has set up a fund and donate at least $1 million.
"This is a very challenging time for the people and City of New York," the organization said in a statement. "The City is rightfully focused on assessment, restoration and recovery. At NYRR, we stand with our City agency partners and support their efforts. The Marathon has always been a special day for New Yorkers as a symbol of the vitality and resiliency of this City. NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation. We will keep all options open with regard to making any accommodations and adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events. We will provide an update and more detail as information becomes available."
The ING New York City Marathon course is a 26.2-mile "block party" through the city's five boroughs, starting on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on Staten Island to Central Park.
"I'm sure there is a great deal of money involved," Ashley wrote. "I'm sure some, perhaps many, people who might need the money generated by the Marathon would want/need it to take place. And it's not that I don't feel for them. But measured against the enormous suffering that we have all seen during these last days, how can that compete?"
More than 40,000 runners are expected to take place in the race.
NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the 2,000 police officers that work the marathon come in on their days off or on overtime and will not affect the storm-relief efforts.
To donate through the Mayor's Fund, click here. Visit NYRR's fundraising platform CrowdRise, to donate to a variety of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. From your mobile phone, text "redcross" to 90999 to donate $10 through your wireless carrier.
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