Nonprofit 5K Race: Pajamas All Day Recap
Putting Our Mission In Motion
… One Event At A Time
The Move For Jenn Foundation was able to put its mission into motion at the Pajamas All Day 5k! Since starting their non-profit, Miles & Jenn Andrews have granted a number of prosthetics to amputees who have lost limbs, and encourage everyone to go for a run, walk, or anything active if it means moving because you can. They hosted the first, but definitely not the last, Pajamas All Day 5k walk/run on Saturday, November 2nd 2019. An initiative they thought would be fun and entertaining all in one, allowing you to quite literally roll out of bed in your PJs and head to the event.There were food vendors (including Clean Juice and Nothing Bundt Cakes), a petting zoo (by A Zoo 2 You), children’s activities, superheroes and princesses (by Carolina Characters), an adult DIY booth (by AR Workshop), Raffles, a Mimosa Bar (by Grape & Agave), and more! The Move For Jenn Foundation is beyond thrilled to have experienced over 843 runners/walkers, raising over $90,000! This event was such a huge milestone for the Move For Jenn Foundation which became an official 501c3 in March 2019. The past few months have been such an eye-opener and has shown the foundation that they are in fact, making a difference in a positive way and are most importantly spreading knowledge of sarcoma - a rare cancer without a cure. It has been their most successful event yet, and the foundation is excited to plan more fun events for all to enjoy in 2020.
Making The Impossible Possible
The Move For Jenn Foundation is able to raise awareness of the sarcoma disease within the community through fundraising events like these. None of this would have been possible without the Move For Jenn Foundation’s amazing board, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, the community of Charlotte, and supporters who made the event what it was. A special thanks to Title Sponsors, Lincoln Financial Group & Vacations To Go for their generous contributions towards the event which made a huge difference! Sponsorships allow the foundation to give back to the community in big ways. When the foundation has the support of other businesses as their sponsors, efforts stretch even further and allow money to be raised to fulfill applications to amputees who have lost a limb and are needing an active-wear prosthetic.
After Jenn Andrews lost her right foot to cancer in 2018 and was rewarded her first running blade prosthetic from a prosthetic manufacturer, she wanted to represent amputee fitness by doing races with her running blade on. She even completed her first race just 6 months after her amputation surgery! It’s important to her to help others receive the prosthetic they need in order to stay active post-amputation. At the race, The Move For Jenn foundation wanted to showcase the surprise of gifting a trail running blade, and a racing wheelchair to two very deserving sarcoma grant recipients, Karen Shapiro-Jenks, and Jacky Hunt-Broersma.
Karen (pictured left with Jenn Andrews) lost her leg below the knee in 2010 due to clear cell sarcoma, then later losing her leg above the knee in 2018 due to complications. Her dream is to participate in a half marathon, and what better way to do that than in a racing wheelchair!
Jacky (pictured left with Jenn Andrews) had her leg amputated due to sarcoma cancer in 2001. She is 1 out of 2 amputee women in the world (that we know of) who is an Ultra trail runner. She runs 50-mile trail races (without stopping)! Her motto is “Anything is possible, even on a Prosthetic.” After using a back-mounted blade and falling 3 times while running, she reached out to the Move For Jenn Foundation asking for help with receiving a trail running blade which would be the correct fit for her running career.
Prosthetics can range anywhere from $5,000-$50,000, lasting only 3-5 years. The Move For Jenn Foundation hopes to fulfill as many applications as possible for those who have lost a limb to sarcoma and are needing an activewear prosthetic.
Moving Because You Can
Cancer can steal a part of people’s lives, but the Move For Jenn Foundation wants to make life more enjoyable for those who have experienced limb amputation and encourage people to move because they can. Since day one, their mission has been simple. To create sarcoma awareness, offer grants to cancer amputees who qualify for an active-wear prosthetic, and raise funds for sarcoma research.Help Spread The Word
Every little bit helps, and each donation helps get the foundation a step further. You can help by attending a Move For Jenn event, becoming a sponsor, volunteering, or helping spread the word through fun cancer-fighting shirts.Catch The Next Events!
Did you miss the Pajamas All Day 5K but would still like to participate in an upcoming event? Stay tuned, as we have a lot of fun events planned for 2020!
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