It’s back—gather the kids, lace up your kicks, and team up for the 15th Annual Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation Walk n’ Roll. This fundraising event supports children facing unique health challenges and promises to be filled with fun, from the beautiful park setting along the banks of the Raritan River to the chance to design your very own superhero cape. And this year, you get to choose how to participate, with options to run in person or virtually at your own pace. Either way, you’ll know you’re making a difference because 100% of the funds raised support life-changing care and cutting-edge research at Children’s Specialized Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. Scroll down to learn more about the Walk n’ Roll.
Featured Photo Credit: RWJBarnabas Health
Walk, run or roll
The whole family can sign up to walk, run, ride, or roll on Sept. 19 at Johnson Park, located on River Road in Piscataway. A kickoff ceremony begins at 10 AM, with the walk to follow at 10:15 AM. Choose your own pace and get moving on a one-mile or 5K course. The event is so much more than just a walk—participants can pack a picnic lunch and enjoy live music, snacks, kids’ activities, and more. Once you cross the finish line, burn off more of your little ones’ endless energy with a stop at the pirate playground. Check out the park’s animal haven too, and spend some quality time with a llama, mini horse, goats, and pigs.
Take the virtual challenge
Not up for an in-person event? You can still do good by taking on a virtual challenge to go 50 miles and raise $500 throughout September. Register as a virtual walker and hit up your favorite parks, neighborhoods, or even your treadmill to reach your fundraising goals. You can download the Movespring app, select your Walk n’ Roll team, track your progress using your fitness tracker, and live stream your activity to your fundraising pages. Or you can opt to support an individual or team by making a donation or becoming a sponsor.
Celebrate the heroes
This year, Children’s Specialized is honoring the hospital’s true heroes—the compassionate and dedicated staff. Have your kids join in to celebrate these heroes by downloading the superhero cape coloring page. Your children can get creative and decorate the page, write the name of a Children’s Specialized Hospital hero, cut it out and bring it to the Walk n’ Roll to be hung on the Heroes wall. Or snap a pic of the cape and send an email to earn a spot on the virtual Heroes wall.
Why it matters
Children’s Specialized Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children living with complex medical conditions—from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries to a full scope of developmental, behavioral, and mental health concerns. For 130 years, CSH has been empowering children in the community to reach their full potential through research, innovative treatment, and family-centered care. Today, more than 35,000 local children receive life-changing care at 15 locations spanning the state from Clifton to Egg Harbor. 100% of every dollar raised through Walk n’ Roll supports the life-changing care and cutting-edge research at CSH that is enhancing the lives of children with special healthcare needs so they can reach their full potential. Your support will go directly to specialized care to help kids like Leah, who had a spinal cord stroke at 8 years old and learned to walk again, or Conner, born prematurely at 25 weeks and diagnosed with cerebral palsy vision loss and a seizure disorder.
How to step up
Ready to help Children’s Specialized Hospital reach its $300,000 goal? All you need to do is register online as an individual or team and set your personal fundraising goals. Advance registration, even for kids, is required to keep the in-person event as safe as possible. If you’re signing up as a virtual walker, you will receive a link to the MoveSpring app, which allows you to automatically record your progress with your fitness tracker. Click here to learn more about the 15th annual Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation Walk n’ Roll.
This post is sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health to help every NJMOM and their family be their healthiest.
