JJ's Journey for a Cause

Join us in celebrating our sweet angel's 5th birthday! We can't think of any better way to honor JJ than to participate in a 5K in his memory.  Doesn't matter if you run or walk, just get outside and move your feet #forJJ! We invite you to stay and hang out after the race to celebrate JJ's birthday - we will have music, snacks, balloons, and entertainment!

All proceeds will go to First Candle, an organization that works to help bereaved families and hoping to bring an end to SIDS.

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. 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.
We did everything we were supposed to do and unfortunately have no answers to what caused this tragedy. 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:   

5 Miler $50 per person

5K $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 (Color 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.  It will take place on a much shorter course (less than one mile).  Kids will be sprinkled with color powder while running to create a fun "color run" experience!! 

AWARDS

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

Awards will be presented to:

• Top 3 male & female finishers overall
• Top male & female finisher in each age division 1-18,19-24,25-29,30-34,35-39,40-49,50-59,60-69,70+.

 

***DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR GUARANTEED TSHIRT SIZE IS MAY 9, 2026!!!***

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!
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:  See specific race options at registration. 

 

Packet Pick Up

There will be two options for packet pick up prior to race day. The first packet pick up will be held Thursday June 4th from 5-7 p.m. at Pace Yourself run store in downtown Wendell. The second packet pick up will be held Friday June 5th from 5-8 p.m. at the Farmhouse Cafe in Wendell Falls. 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! 

5 Miler Race will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday June 6th.

5K Race will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Packet pick up will be from 6:00am-7:00am (Really suggest either picking up the night before or one of the other times during the week if you are local)

Kids fun run will begin at 9:00am shortly after the 5K begins. This is to allow for the racers to start earlier before it gets too hot and to allow everything to remain on the same day.

WE ARE CHANGING THE KIDS RUN THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD

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. 

Follow us on social media @jjsjourneyforacause and tag us in your posts using #run4JJ !!!

How it Works
Sign up here (use the Sign Up button at the top of the page).
Print out your digital bib (from your Runsignup profile page) if you'd like.
Download the RaceJoy app for the best race experience.
Run your race at a place of your choosing (including a treadmill) before the deadline. If you use RaceJoy, it will automatically submit your results. If not, go to the results page and submit your time.

Virtual Race FAQs
What is a virtual run?

A virtual race is an event where you sign up and participate on a course of your choosing (or a treadmill). This is a great opportunity to work towards your running goals, stay healthy, and support a great cause!

The event will feature a leaderboard so you can still see how you stack up against your fellow competitors!

Where do I run?

You can run at a course of your choosing, including on a treadmill. 

When do I run?

You can run (or walk) anytime on June 1 - June 7, 2025.

Will this race be timed?

The virtual run will not be officially timed, but by using the RaceJoy app, you can receive a GPS-based time which will automatically submit your time for you. There will be an online leaderboard showing everyone's times.

How do I post my results?

The easiest way is to use RaceJoy during the race! If you choose not to use RaceJoy, then you can visit the results page and click the "Submit Virtual Results" link at the top of the page.

When/how will I get my swag?

Swag will be shipped out directly to your address by June 12.

This event is timed by Run the East! With professional race timing services and a focus on delivering accurate results, 
we’re here to make your race day seamless and enjoyable. Learn more at runtheeast.com.

 

5 Miler: T-Shirt

5K: T-Shirt

Virtual 5K: T-Shirt