Cherry Blossom Run is Cancelled; Participants Encouraged to Donate Fees
The 2020 Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5k Run-Walk have been canceled. Originally scheduled for Sunday, April 5th the event was required to move to a virtual run due to health concerns related to COVID-19.
Event Director Phil Stewart said, “We’ve faced heat, cold and high winds at the event since 1973, but never a broad health threat like the COVID-19 virus. The organizing committee held out hope that the virus might peak and start to decline in the three weeks that remained before race day. However, when the warnings by Federal and local officials along with Public Health Agencies showed that we were still on the upslope of the virus, we knew we needed to take action – however painful – to minimize our participants’ exposure at our event.”
For 18 years, credit unions have been the title sponsor of the event and chosen Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as the benefiting charitable partner. Resulting in over $9.5 million raised for 170 children’s hospitals across North America.
With a strong commitment to serving kids in need, race organizers have encouraged runners already signed up for the event to donate their race registration to CMN Hospitals.
“We would like to carry on the legacy of enabling Credit Union Miracle Day to make a sizeable contribution to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, even though the annual tradition of the race itself will be interrupted this year,” says Phil Stewart.
Nick Coleman, Director of Corporate Partnerships at CMN Hospitals adds, “our organization is so proud of the partnership we’ve shared with the credit union industry for 24 years; the Cherry Blossom Run being a prime example of our cooperative success. It is no surprise, but showcases the real integrity of the credit union industry and the Cherry Blossom race organizations, to continue prioritizing funding child healthcare in this difficult time.”
If you would like to make a general donation or learn more about the Cherry Blossom, click here.