Run to the Rhythm Trail 5k & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk

THE RACE

Join us in supporting Malawi Children's Initiative for the ninth year by participating in a 5K run or walk. Create a fundraising page or team to help maximize the impact of your participation by funding the training of Malawian healthcare professionals, and providing lifegiving care to children in Malawi.

THE CHARITY

Malawi Children’s Initiative (MCI) is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization established in 2017 by physicians David and Elizabeth Fitzgerald to help build bridges between their friends and colleagues at home in the U.S. and those in Malawi, where they have worked and sometimes lived since 2011. MCI focuses on improving the lives of Malawian children through investment in healthcare, education, and nutritional initiatives and has provided more than $1 million in funding, training, staffing and equipment to benefit Malawian Children since it was founded.

Significant projects include funding an elementary school building; providing dozens of scholarships for healthcare education from elementary school through post-graduate training and medical school; building, staffing and running a pediatric clinical lab and residency program at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH); and contributing thousands of hours of nursing care support to the KCH Pediatric Department. MCI also runs the Nutritional Rehab Unit at KCH, a key weapon in the fight against children experiencing severe acute malnutrition. Most recently, MCI has begun laying the groundwork to construct a new pediatric hospital unit at KCH and train enough new local pediatricians to staff it.

THE GOAL

Raise $50,000 to train new pediatricians, provide healthcare education and equipment aimed at saving and improving the lives of Malawian children, especially those facing severe hunger and malnutrition.

Zeta Tau Alpha is celebrating its 37th Annual Franklin 5k! This event raises money for the ZTA Foundation whose efforts support educational programming, scholarships, leadership development, and breast cancer education and awareness. Additionally, the Theta Tau Chapter donates to local organizations: the Arc of the Triangle, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Ashton's Angels. Please consider making a donation towards our philanthropy: Breast Cancer Education and Awareness, which is a cause that our Theta Tau chapter holds close to our hearts!

Schedule

Early Packet Pickup: Saturday 4pm-7pm we are offering early race registration; packet pick up and mandatory ZTA participant waiver signing at 120 North St. Chapel Hill. We encourage all those already in town and especially those local to the area to come on Friday and register in advance to pick up your gear early! If you drive to the location, we recommend parking in the Parking Deck at 125 E Rosemary St as there is limited parking on North St and none available at the pickup location. There will be a table set up out front for you to meet our team and pick up your items!

Race Day Checkin: Sunday 6:30-7:30 AM at Henry Owl Building230 E Cameron Ave. We recommend runners arrive no later than 7 am for the registration process, but please be aware that we are expecting a large turnout, so the earlier you arrive, the more time you will have to check-in!

Suggested Race Day Parking:

Cobb Parking Deck: 110 Country Club Rd, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514

Morehead Planetarium Parking Lot: 250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514

125 East Rosemary Deck: 125 E Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514

Registration = $25 until March 27th at 11:59pm (price increases to $30 following that date)

A race day registration packet for the in-person Franklin 5k will include a Franklin 5k t-shirt, and participant bib.

T-shirt size options: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large

In order to receive the t-shirt portion of this giveaway, registration must be completed by April 1st at 11:59pm. All registrations completed after that time period will only include the participant bib

Please be aware that prior to registration (before you collect your bib), you will be asked to sign the following waiver:

I, _________________(“Participant”) acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in the Franklin 5K taking place on April 12, 2025 at 230 E Cameron Ave. I certify that I have not been advised to not participate in this or any other similar activity by a qualified medical professional. I further acknowledge and agree to, on my own behalf, and on behalf of my personal representatives, heirs, assigns, executors, administrators and next of kin, as follows.I agree that by participating in this event I am declaring that at the time of the event, I am well and suffering no symptoms of COVID or other illness. I am aware that while participating in this event, I may come into contract with other individuals which may increase the opportunity to be exposed to COVID or other communicable disease. Upon entering the premises and facilities of Franklin 5K at Bynum Circle, I will inspect the same and my observation and use of said premises and facilities shall constitute an acknowledgement

that I find and accept them to be safe and reasonably suited for their intended purpose.I hereby release Zeta Tau Alpha and its officers, members, advisors, volunteers, employees and National Council from and against any and all liability for any loss, damage, injury, expense, demand or cause of action that I may suffer whether with respect to personal injury, death, damage to or destruction of personal property, theft or otherwise, which may arise as a result of my presence in, upon or about the premises and as a consequence of my participation in this event or use of the facilities and equipment. I acknowledge that Zeta Tau Alpha is NOT responsible for the errors, omissions, acts or failures to act of any party or entity conducting a specific activity on their behalf.

Who We Are: Healthy Kids Running Series is a five (5) week running program in the spring and fall for kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dashes, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the 1 mile run. Kids will earn points for each race they complete based on their finish.

Pricing: The registration fee covers the entire five (5) weeks of the Series which includes race bibs for each week, a runner shirt, a finisher medal and any sponsor giveaways. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Online Early Bird registration increases three weeks prior to the first race event.

High School: We also welcome our high school runners! Our high school students will be running a 2 mile race.

Challenger: This Series offers a Challenger Division which is an adaptive 75 yard race for children with disabilities and/or special needs. This allows for parents, siblings, and friends to be on the course with runners to provide support as well as bringing their own supportive devices such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. to be used by runners.

Makeup Date Information: 5/24/2026

Single Day Racing: Single day race registration opens one hour prior to the start of each race. The registration fee covers one single race to be run on the day of registration. ALL single day registrations should be completed onsite at the race location. Single day racers will have the option to upgrade to the full series (see tab on the left side of the page for instructions). There is a strict no-refund and no-transfer policy.

Awards: All participants receive a medal on Week 5! Trophies will be awarded to the overall top finishers in each of the divisions listed below (broken out by boys and girls respectively):

Pre-K 50 Yard Dash

Pre-K 75 Yard Dash

Kindergarten & 1st Grade

2nd & 3rd Grade

4th & 5th Grade

6th to 8th Grade

High School

Challenger

Share your running photos with our community! Find us on Facebook @HealthyKidsRunning or Instagram @healthykidsrs!

#GetUpandGo

Hi! We're CPALS, a non-profit student organization at UNC-Chapel Hill that works closely with UNC Hospitals to support pediatric hematology and oncology patients (our pals!). CPALS members can apply for a 1:1 Pal to support a specific patient and their family during inpatient stays and/or clinic visits. This is a really meaningful relationship for both our patients and our volunteers!

In addition to volunteering our time to create programming and friendship with our pals, we work throughout the year to raise funds for the CPALS Scholarship Program. Through this program we provide financial assistance to our pals for college expenses, which helps their families who have endured the unexpected costs of treatment. We also fund the CPALS Cares Grant to supply immediate financial support to patient families through gift cards to places such as restaurants and convenience stores.​

This year, we are hosting the Golden Heroes 5K (named after the color of the childhood cancer awareness ribbon and for our pals) again in the hopes of raising both awareness and funds for our cause. With your help, we hope to provide even greater financial assistance to our deserving pals! In lieu of T-shirts this year, every registration is part of a larger donation that goes directly to the clinic. People who register will receive free bagels on race day, and there will be gift certificates for the top three male and female finishers. Packet pick up will be on April 18th from 3-6 pm at Fleet Feet Carrboro and there will be free Brandwein's Bagels provided at the race! The race will start at Bynum Circle (by the Old Well).

To register and support our cause, please sign up using this page. There will be same day and walk-in registration.

Questions, comments, want more information? Contact us (fundraising@unccpals.com) or visit our official websites at: https://www.goldenheroes5k.com/ and https://cpals.web.unc.edu/

Water For People is a non-profit organization that works in Latin America, East Africa, and India to ensure that every person has access to reliable and safe water and sanitation services. With over 300 participants for our last in-person race, this event provides a great opportunity to connect with athletic and like-minded individuals both in and out of the water and wastewater industry. The American Tobacco Trail is a flat and shaded course, making this a perfect race for beginners and experienced runners alike. Runners, joggers, walkers, rollers, pets, and strollers are all welcome!