Teddy Bear 5k/1k Sunday to Benefit Falls Church-McLean Children's Center

McLEAN, VA -- Runners and walkers of all ages will be awarded a Teddy Bear when they cross the finish line of the 4th Annual Teddy Bear 5K & 1K Walk/Run on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. at Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center at 7230 Idylwood Road.

Proceeds support the Falls Church-McLean Children's Center, the preschool where children from low-income, working families build the skills they need to be ready for success in school and in life.

Registration is open to the public:

• Online at Teddy Bear 5K & 1K Walk/Run until midnight Sat., Sept. 24
• In-person at Road Runner Sports, at 1120 West Broad St. in Falls Church, on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• At the event, starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, when the pre-race Fun Fair opens.

You can check in when the "Fun Fair" begins at 2 p.m., at the Falls Church-McLean Children's Center playground and field, located at 7230 Idylwood Road in the Falls Church area. Follow signs to Pimmit Hills Park, the start and finish point. The 1K Starts at the Falls Church-McLean Children's Center, down a paved path, onto a flat, shaded dirt path and back.

In addition to games, a puppet show, balloon artist, and face painters, the fair this year will offer a “petting zoo” of instruments provided by Bach to Rock of McLean. In case of rain, the fair will be located in the Lemon Road Elementary School cafeteria, the same location as the Children’s Center. Races will continue as scheduled regardless of weather, according to organizers.

The 5K course takes runners through the Pimmit Hills neighborhood, just west of Falls Church City. Runners in the 5K will be awarded prizes donated by local businesses. Prizes will be handed out to the fastest male and female 5K runners in six different age groups for children under 18 and seven different age groups for adults. Overall winners will receive a new pair of running shoes from Road Runner Sports.

Other prizes include gift certificates to local businesses, including Sonic Car Wash, Doodlehopper Toy Store, Plaka Grill, Panjshir Restaurant, and Argia’s Restaurant. Runners will be treated to baked goods from Great Harvest Breads.

Fairfax Co. Supervisor John Foust and others will award Teddy Bears to runners at the finish line.

Several local donors and businesses are sponsoring the event: New Editions Consulting; Burke and Herbert Bank; EKKO Title, Capitol Financial Consultants, and Ric and Jean Edelman.

Proceeds from the race will support Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, a nonprofit early childhood education program dedicated to giving all children, regardless of their family’s financial resources, a strong start with the skills they need to be successful in school.

PHOTO: Race logo courtesy of organizers