{"id":54780,"date":"2016-12-19T11:15:34","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T16:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=54780"},"modified":"2016-12-21T13:27:48","modified_gmt":"2016-12-21T18:27:48","slug":"best-charity-races-give-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/best-charity-races-give-back\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Incredible Charity Races That Give Back"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"11<\/div>\n

The holiday season makes for the perfect time to give back! And what better way to help those in need than doing your own body some good while you\u2019re at it? These charity races, from 5K<\/a> runs to 500-mile bike rides<\/a>, will get you up and out while supporting cancer research, diabetes prevention and more. Take time today to add a few of these events (listed by date) to your 2017 race schedule. And let\u2019s take one step forward, together!<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>5 Breast Cancer Charities Giving Women New Hope<\/a><\/p>\n

Exercise for a Cause: 11 Charity Races that Give Back<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Cupid's
Photo courtesy of Cupid’s Chase 5K<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0Cupid\u2019s Chase 5K<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>33 cities across the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>February 11, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Community Options, Inc<\/a>, an organization dedicated to developing housing and employment opportunities for people with disabilities<\/p>\n

This 3.2-miler welcomes walkers<\/a>, runners, joggers, strollers and wheelchairs to conquer the course. Each participant is encouraged to set up an individual fundraiser, complete with cool swag to keep you reaching for more donation dollars. And you only need to hit $50 to snag the first-level prize. Just make sure to sport your best reds and pinks on race day.<\/p>\n

\"Cycle
Photo courtesy of Cycle for Survival<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2.\u00a0<\/strong>Cycle for Survival<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>16\u00a0cities across the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>February and March, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center<\/a>, a private research hospital at the forefront of finding treatments for rare cancers<\/p>\n

The energy at these indoor cycling<\/a> events is always through the roof. That\u2019s probably because most riders form teams with their friends, family or colleagues and take turns riding and cheering throughout the day. Plus, Equinox<\/a> instructors pump up the crowds. Each bike has a minimum funding requirement of $1,000, but the average amount most teams raise is roughly five times that. All funds go directly toward finding a cure for cancer, so why not have some fun pedaling it out for the cause?<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>4 Mistakes You\u2019re Making Setting Up Your Bike for Spin Class<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Tour
Photo Courtesy of Colon Cancer Coalition<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3.\u00a0Get Your Rear in Gear and Tour de Tush<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>41 cities across the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>February through November, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Hosted by the Colon Cancer Coalition<\/a>, which works to encourage screenings and raise awareness about colorectal cancer by funding local campaigns<\/p>\n

This event launched in 2005 in the Twin Cities and has since gone on to become one of the top initiatives to educate the public on colon cancer. With 40 run\/walks<\/a> and three cycling events, everyone can get involved, no matter your preferred form of exercise or your skill level. And by participating, know you\u2019re furthering the Colon Cancer Coalition\u2019s number-one goal: to raise screening rates to 80 percent by 2018.<\/p>\n

\"Tour
Photo courtesy of Tour de Cure<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4.\u00a0Tour de Cure<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>76 cities across the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>March to December, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>American Diabetes Association<\/a>, supporting diabetes research and advocacy<\/p>\n

More than 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Join the ride that aims to prevent the disease and you could help save countless lives. Each event offers a few distances \u2014 anywhere from three miles to 100 \u2014 so cyclists of all abilities can pedal along. The minimum fundraising requirement varies from city to city, but most average about $200. And with your charity dollar, you get a few perks like free breakfast, rest stops along the routes with food and drinks and a party at the finish line.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Big Benefits of Losing Just a Little Bit of Weight<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Walk
Photo courtesy of Walk for Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.\u00a0<\/strong>Walk for Life World Run<\/a><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>Sunrise, FL, Santa Clarita, CA and 23 cities abroad
\nWhen: <\/strong>May 7, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>100 percent of the entry fee goes to the Wings for Life Foundation<\/a>, which funds research for spinal cord injury treatment<\/p>\n

Think of this as a race in reverse. Instead of trekking toward the finish line<\/a>, you try to stay ahead of the \u201ccatcher car\u201d that\u2019s chasing you from behind. The race welcomes runners and wheelchair competitors across all locations, plus anyone who wants to run solo and record it as a selfie. The coolest part? Everyone starts at exactly the same time, 11 a.m. UTC. (Yup, that can mean a 3 a.m. start time for our friends in Los Angeles!) The farthest anyone has gotten: just under 40 miles, completed by Aron Anderson, a wheelchair athlete, in 2015.<\/p>\n

\"Cause<\/a>
Photo courtesy of Cause + Event<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6.\u00a0Cause + Adventure 5K Run\/Walk Race Series<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>Boston, MA, Portland, OR and Boise, ID
\nWhen: <\/strong>May 21, 2017, Fall 2017 and TBD (respectively)
\nCharity: <\/strong>Any non-profit the participant chooses<\/p>\n

Unlike the races on this list that donate money to a specific organization, this fairly new event lets you choose the cause you care most about, as long as it\u2019s a Guidestar-registered 501-c-3 charitable organization. Half of your registration fee (at least $15) \u2014 and any money raised on your donation page \u2014 then goes to the charity of your choice. Can\u2019t make it to the race near you? Sign up to run it wherever you may be. Each location offers 150 virtual participants.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Expert Tips for Pacing Yourself on the Run<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AIDS<\/a>
Photo courtesy of AIDS Lifecycle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7.\u00a0AIDS Lifecycle Ride 545<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Location: <\/strong>San Francisco to Los Angeles, CA
\nWhen: <\/strong>June 4-10, 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>San Francisco AIDS Foundation<\/a> and the Los Angeles LGBT Center<\/a><\/p>\n

Put this on your list of long-distance race goals. The seven-day bike ride spans 545 miles, as you pedal through a good chunk of California, stopping to set up tents along the way. In its 15th<\/sup> year, more than 32,000 people have hopped on a two-wheeler for this trek and raised a minimum $3,000 before doing so. That\u2019s led to a total $220 million in donations since 1993.<\/p>\n

\"Jingle<\/a>
Photo courtesy of Jingle Bell Run<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8.\u00a0<\/strong>Jingle Bell Run\/Walk<\/a><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>More than 100 cities across the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>July through December 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Arthritis Foundation<\/a>, which helps give the arthritis community more access to information, resources, care, science on treatments and support within their communities<\/p>\n

This festive event kicks off with a few Christmas-in-July events and spreads to several other cities throughout the holiday season. Runners don elf costumes, Santa outfits and lots of red, green, blue and bells to complete the 5K. The organizers recommend a minimum fundraising goal of $150.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>How to Start a Running Challenge (and Actually Succeed!)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Susan
Photo courtesy of Susan G. Komen 3-Day<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9.\u00a0Susan G. Komen 3-Day<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, Twin Cities and Michigan (Novi to Dearborn)
\nWhen: <\/strong>August through November\u00a02017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Susan G. Komen<\/a>, which supports breast cancer awareness and research<\/p>\n

Participants cover 20 miles a day in this three-day walking affair \u2014 an event that\u2019s already raised $800 million in cancer research, particularly treatment programs, since 2003. The reason they\u2019ve reached such high numbers? They\u2019ve had more than 500,000 walkers and each person has to a raise a minimum of $2,300. Talk about setting big goals.<\/p>\n

\"TEAL
Photo courtesy of T.E.A.L Walk\/Run<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10.\u00a0T.E.A.L. Walk\/Run Program<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Locations: <\/strong>Brooklyn and Whitesboro, NY, Savannah, GA and Litchfield, CT
\nWhen:<\/strong> September 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>Tell Every Amazing Lady about Ovarian Cancer Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation<\/a>, which aims to promote awareness, raise research and support survivors of ovarian cancer<\/p>\n

Since the first event in 2009, this race has funneled in more than $1 million in funds, included more than 9,900 participants and expanded from just one race in Brooklyn to three other locations. Grab your girlfriends for the 2.5-mile walk in support of women\u2019s health or sign up for the 5K run if you want a little more sweat on race day.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>3 Simple Strategies for Reducing Your Breast Cancer Risk<\/a><\/p>\n

\"St.
Photo courtesy of St. Jude’s Walk\/Run San Diego<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11.\u00a0St. Jude Walk\/Run to End Childhood Cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Locations: <\/strong>60 cities in the U.S.
\nWhen: <\/strong>September 2017
\nCharity: <\/strong>St. Jude\u2019s Children Hospital<\/a>, a free hospital for kids battling cancer, which also researches treatments<\/p>\n

St. Jude\u2019s depends on fundraisers like this walk\/run to provide care to kids with cancer. Donated dollars mean parents won\u2019t ever get a bill for treatment, travel or even housing and food while their kid gets care. The hospital has also helped increase the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since it opened in 1962. And because this event takes place in 30 states, you can sign up, start collecting donations, and hit the ground running (or walking).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Add these charity races to your 2017 race calendar so you can exercise while you give back. Moving more while helping others? A true win, win!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":54798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6],"tags":[157,168,289,110,108,341,343],"class_list":["post-54780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","tag-biking","tag-charity","tag-exercise","tag-race","tag-running","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54780\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}