Team ROAR Virtual 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk 2020

Short review

The 2nd Annual Team ROAR 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk for the Donna M. Karlis Memorial Fund is going VIRTUAL! The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly has had an impact on all of us…reminding us that life is uncertain. Life for metastatic breast cancer patients is uncertain even without the pandemic. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is advanced breast cancer, or stage IV. It is defined by the spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to non-adjacent organs such as the lung, liver, bones and brain. Receiving effective and timely treatment can increase longevity and quality of life, but that too is uncertain. Over 20% of early stage breast cancer patients develop MBC, and the average survival rate for MBC patients is only 2 to 3 years. Our goal is to raise funds to support those who are living with MBC and for MBC research that we hope will one day help change the disease to a chronic illness rather than a deadly one. 

📢 We are thrilled to announce that Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, NJ is our Presenting Sponsor and medical partner for the Team ROAR Virtual 5K and 1-Mile Walk!  We are grateful for their partnership and support!

Help support our cause and sign up to run or walk ANYWHERE you like ANYTIME you like between October 10th and October 18th. 

How it works:

Sign up for the event anytime between now and October 18 (register by 9/30 to guarantee a t-shirt)

Print out the custom bib to wear when you run/walk the event should you want to make it official  -- make sure you take some photos!

Choose your race day and time between Oct. 10 and Oct. 18

Pick a location like your neighborhood, a local park, or even a treadmill

Run/walk alone or with family and friends (please follow social distancing guidelines)

Submit your finishing time (5K only) to the Results tab  **Submitting your results is optional, but those received will appear on our leader board.

Celebrate your accomplishment by printing out your finisher's certificate and sharing your photos on social media with #DMKFundTeamROAR and tag @dmkmemorialfund

Upload your photos to the Photos tab 

Awards:

There are no awards for this year's race, but all participants will be entered in a raffle for a $250 Visa gift card.

Fundraising Beneficiaries:

Team ROAR Virtual 5K and 1-Mile Walk proceeds will once again be split between two notable non-profits. Half will support the needs of local metastatic breast cancer patients through The Somerset Health Care Foundation, which is the fund raising arm of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, NJ.  The other 50 percent will benefit METAvivor Research and Support, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for women and men with metastatic breast cancer and funding research to transition MBC from a terminal illness to a controlled, chronic condition.

The Donna M. Karlis Memorial Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The fund was established in memory of Bridgewater resident Donna M. Karlis, who passed away after a courageous and inspiring battle with metastatic breast cancer in 2017 at age 42. 

Disclaimer: 

This is a virtual event.  You will be participating in this event at your own risk.  Please do not run/walk on unsafe roads or areas that have been closed off to the public.  As it applies to your participation in this event, you agree to abide by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s recommendations for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 - see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html. Practice social distancing and follow other safety guidelines issued by the state, the community or by this event for my participation in this race.