December 3, 2012 (Dallas) – Panda Ross, 2012 X Factor contestant and local celebrity, will sing the National Anthem during the starting ceremonies of the 2012 MetroPCS Dallas Marathon. Panda was invited by executive director Marcus Grunewald, who was introduced to Panda through his Back on My Feet running buddies.
 
“Panda has worked at my local Starbucks for seven years now, I visit her on Friday’s after my morning run,” said Grunewald. “She’s extremely talented and after hearing about her X Factor success, I asked her to join us on race day.”
 
Ross, originally from Hobbs, New Mexico, tried out for X Factor because she wanted to win enough money to help build a church with her ministry group, Victory Outreach. She also counts Simon Cowell as her “idol.” After making it through her audition in front of the judges, Ross made it to the boot camp round where she was eliminated.
 
“I’ve been singing all of my life,” Ross said. “I’m so looking forward to singing the National Anthem and to experience all of the excitement for the Dallas Marathon. Every time a customer walks through the door of my Starbucks, I’m always singing the anthem for practice!”
 
Since X Factor, Ross has been making appearances for the show, filming commercials and has also recorded a handful of singles for her upcoming Christian-gospel record. Ross will be singing the National Anthem for the Dallas Marathon on the heels of a gig in New York City to kick off the professional soccer season. 
 
To learn more about marathon weekend festivities, visit dallasmarathon.com.
 
About the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon
The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon is a flat and fast race, featuring a scenic course that highlights the best areas of Dallas including the landmark Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The race is Texas’ oldest running marathon and serves as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Race activities occur the second weekend of December and include a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, the Cigna Mayor’s Race 5K presented by Oncor, the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon, 5-Person Relay, and SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge presented by Behringer Harvard. The Dallas Marathon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the primary beneficiary of proceeds from race weekend is Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit dallasmarathon.com.