Raise Money For Pediatric Cancer Research At Chatham Fun Run

CHATHAM, NJ — This Saturday, join close to 350 race participants, their families, and lots of volunteers from Chatham High School to run in support of pediatric cancer research.

For the ninth year, the Sunshine Striders 1-Mile Fun Run is being held in Chatham on Saturday, May 13, in partnership with Bailey's Warriors.

Bailey's Warriors was started to fight alongside Chatham third grader Bailey, who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in January and is being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering, officials said.

"Over the course of a few whirlwind weeks, we have traded driving to and from soccer tournaments and standing on the sidelines cheering her on in exchange for hours in the hospital and the head coaching job in the biggest game of all – the fight for her life," Bailey's mother Catherine said.

All funds raised by the 2023 Sunshine Striders will go toward pediatric cancer research and treatment, which is a severely underfunded area of cancer research and treatment.

The race begins at 4 p.m. at the Leach driveway at 208 Longwood Avenue in Chatham. Following the run, event organizers said they plan to celebrate all of their supporters with bounce houses, pizza and a DJ.

"This is the 9th annual Sunshine Striders Fun Run, and over the years, this group has raised over $160,000, every penny of which has gone to rare cancer research and clinical trials. Please help us reach our fundraising goal for 2023," Kelly Leach said.

Pedaling Sunshine and Sunshine Striders were created and founded by Leach, a cancer survivor and patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

During her year of treatment, Leach discovered Cycle for Survival and decided that this cause would be a major focus in her life after cancer.

Pedaling Sunshine and Sunshine Striders were created concurrently, both named after the song "You Are My Sunshine," which Leach sang to her two sons every night during treatment.

Every year, the Sunshine Striders kid runners take to the streets of Chatham to run a 1-mile loop around the Leach family home.

In just seven years, these two teams have raised over $2 million for rare cancer research, clinical trials, and new drug development, extending and improving the lives of cancer patients all over the world.

The online registration for this event has now closed. Participants can still register on the day of the event, but they must arrive at 208 Longwood Ave. in Chatham at 3:15 p.m. on May 13.