Bethesda 5K Run to Raise Money for Pediatric Cancer Patients

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step" couldn't be more fitting for children fighting rare cancers or for the runners and walkers raising funds to help them.   On October 14, those first steps will begin with a 5K Run – 1 Mile Walk in Bethesda, sponsored by the Hayden's Journey of Inspiration (HJI) Foundation.

The 5K Run/1 Mile walk is one of many efforts by HJI to raise money for housing assistance for families of Georgetown University pediatric cancer patients who must travel to Duke University for potentially life-saving stem cell transplants. 

"HJI currently has one fully furnished apartment in Durham serving families whose children are being transplanted at Duke,"  said HJI board member Ellen Burgess. "This fundraiser is a critical event to help raise the money needed to pay the ongoing expenses of that apartment and begin work on the next Home of Inspiration."

Beginning near North Bethesda Middle School, at the south end of Bulls Run Parkway, the run/walk will weave through the pastoral streets of Bethesda's Wyngate neighborhood and features mild and steep inclines and long, flat stretches of tree-lined streets.

The 5K Run begins at 8 a.m.  The 1-Mile Walk begins at 9 a.m.  There will be a brief awards ceremony at 9:45 for the top finishers in six age groups and for the top fundraisers.

Runners and walkers can register on line before the race at http://www.hjifoundation.org.  Race Day registration is also available and will begin at 7 a.m. 

Pre-Registration fees are $35 without fundraising and $20 with fundraising.  For participants who choose the fundraising option, they are expected to raise a minimum of $100 per individual or $200 per family.  Race Day registration is $50. 

The Wyngate neighborhood holds special meaning for the founders of the HJI Foundation since that is where the community lives that supported their family when their daughter, Hayden, was diagnosed with leukemia and journeyed through the life-saving treatment at Duke. 

"I am so excited to have such a great event right here in my neighborhood," said 14-year old Hayden Zavareei.  "We created this organization to help families who have to move away from home for treatment at Duke.  This is the community that helped our family, and we are excited for a special day that keeps supporting other families."

For more information about the 5K Run – 1 Mile Walk, for Hayden's story, or to make a donation, visit the HJI Foundation website at http://hjifoundation.org.

SOURCE Hayden's Journey of Inspiration Foundation