JJ's Journey for a Cause

320 Vintage Point Lane, Wendell NC

Sunday, June 1st, 2025

🎉 Event Celebration

Join us in celebrating our sweet angel's 4th birthday! We can't think of any better way to honor JJ than to participate in a 5K in his memory.

Inclusive event: Doesn't matter if you run or walk, just get outside and move your feet #forJJ!
Post-race activities: We invite you to stay and hang out after the race to celebrate JJ's birthday.
Fun environment: We will have music, snacks, balloons, and entertainment!

💔 Our Story

In November of 2021 we unexpectedly lost our 5-month-old son, JJ. He was a perfectly healthy and happy baby, thriving and enjoying life.

Tragic loss: What started as a typical Friday morning for our family changed completely when we got the call that JJ had gone down for his morning nap at daycare and did not wake up.
Seeking answers: We did everything we were supposed to do and unfortunately have no answers to what caused this tragedy.
Raising awareness: To honor our son and in hopes to help prevent this from happening to other families in the future, we are working to raise money for research for SIDS.

🏃 Race Details

Cost: $30 per person
Price increase: 30 days prior to race day
Ages 5 and under: Free (won't receive a bib for timing)

👦 Kids Fun Run

This year we will be adding a kids fun run as a part of our event. This race will be geared towards elementary school-aged kids, ideally ages 5-12.

Short course: It will take place on a much shorter course (less than one mile).
Color powder: Kids will be sprinkled with color powder while running to create a fun "color run" experience!
Participant cap: This event will be capped at 50 participants to ensure that we have enough color powder for all runners.
Sign up: Use the link below to sign up for the kids fun run:

Click here to sign up

🏆 Awards

Awards this year are being presented by Pace Yourself Run Company! A new local running store in Wendell, NC.

Awards for finishers: Top 3 male & female finishers overall.
Age division awards: Top male & female finisher in each age division.

📝 Registration Deadline

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR GUARANTEED TSHIRT SIZE IS MAY 9, 2025!!!

We will need to have everyone's requested shirt sizes about a month in advance in order to know how many of each size to order and allow time for production.

Sizes Available: Adult S-XL, Youth XS-XL.

📦 Packet Pick Up

There will be two options for packet pick up prior to race day.

First date: Thursday June 5th from 5-7 p.m. at Pace Yourself run store in downtown Wendell.
Second date: Friday June 6th from 5-8 p.m. at the Farmhouse Cafe in Wendell Falls.
Race day pick up: If you are not able to attend either of the pre-race packet pick up dates, we will also be offering packet pick up on race day but you must arrive early!

Race will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday June 7th. Packet pick up will be from 8:00-9:00 a.m. The kids fun run will begin at 9:00 a.m. - 30 minutes prior to the start of the 5K.

🌍 Virtual 5K

We will also be offering a virtual option for people who would like to participate in JJ's Journey but are not local. You will complete your 3.1 miles anytime between June 1st - June 7th and submit your time to the RaceJoy app.