3 walking events in Burlington, Vermont

Welcome to the third annual PANS/PANDAS Awareness event in Vermont! Join us for a 5K fun run and walk along in Burlington on October 11, 2025 to raise awareness for PANS/PANDAS here in Vermont—an often-overlooked autoimmune disorder affecting children and young adults. We’re calling on our citizens of Vermont to join us in raising awareness and moving towards change and healing.

Description

This is a family-friendly run/walk in Burlington. Everyone is welcome: from regular runners ready to race to walkers looking for some good community fun. We'll have a DJ, snacks, cool t-shirts, medals, prizes, and some resources and experts to help us learn about this important condition facing our kids.

We are again partnering with The Alex Manfull Fund (TAMF), a New Hampshire-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that supports awareness, education, and research to further understand the incidence, etiology, and best treatment of post-infectious neuroimmune disorders (aka PANDAS, PANS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis) with an emphasis on their manifestation in Adolescents and Young Adults. TAMF has established a fellowship fund at Dartmouth Hospital’s Neuroimmune Psychiatric Disorder (NIPD) clinic. Net proceeds from our event will be given to NIPD in support of their clinic.

What are PANS and PANDAS?

PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) occur when a child’s immune response to an infection causes inflammation in the brain. The inflammation can cause the sudden onset of behavioral, neurological, and personality changes. The effects of PANS/PANDAS on children and their families are devastating—yet these conditions are still relatively unknown in Vermont, making diagnosis and treatment extremely difficult. Learn more about this condition and its symptoms.

A note from Gaskell family

Welcome to the PANDAS/PANS 5K! We are a family of 5 living in Burlington looking to transform the hardship of our own PANDAS journey into a beacon of hope and progress for others.

In September 2022, at age 8, our son experienced a sudden, acute onset of extreme neuropsychiatric symptoms. As his parents, we sought help from doctors, psychiatrists, and local resources but to no avail; his condition continued to spiral. Thanks to one of our son's former teachers, who witnessed our struggle and had read about PANDAS on Facebook, we got a first glimpse of what could be happening. In June 2023, a clinic at Dartmouth Hospital diagnosed our son with PANDAS. Since then, treatment and recovery have been long and arduous, however finally—now almost two years later—his condition has improved significantly. With a bit of blue sky returning for our family, we’ve emerged with a clear mission: to help others living with this devastating condition.

Course

5K loop on the UVM women's cross-country course. Great footing (not counting snow or ice) on cinder/paved path and grass - some single track. No pets, headphones, strollers or bicycles allowed on the course. Walkers welcome. Walkers and slower runners please line up towards the back for safety at the crowded start.

Registration

Online registration available until race morning - 9:40 AM. Donations can be made online or in-person on race day (see "Entry Fee" info below).

-OR-

Race day registration at Gutterson Field House at UVM in Burlington from 9:00 - 9:40 AM.

• Print and fill out this Registration Form and bring it with you to the race.

The race will be held in the rain, snow, or shine!

Entry Fee

Suggested donation $5 ($10 per family) and/or a food donation. Make checks payable to: Feeding Chittenden. Note: Runners are welcome to donate more than $5! All net proceeds go to Feeding Chittenden (formerly known as Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf).

Restrictions

Open to runners of all ages.

Anyone who goes inside at Gutterson must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and masked or have proof of a recent negative test and be masked.

Kids Race

There will be a free 1/4-mile kids' race at the Archie Post fields just before the 5K at 9:45 AM.

Prizes & Timing

The race will be timed with a large race clock, but only the top 10 finishing times will be recorded.

Raffle prizes will be awarded after the race, all participants and volunteers are eligible.

Benefit

Feeding Chittenden (formerly known as Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf)

Directions

Take Interstate 89 until exit 14. Get on route 2 west. Turn south onto Spear St. (via "jug handle" on right). Field House is on the right after 1/4 mile.

Information

Race Directors: Jess Marini - [email protected]

NOTE: GMAA/Insurance rules prohibit running with a baby jogger or dog. For safety reasons and as a courtesy to fellow runners, GMAA strongly discourages the use of headphones.

There are no refunds, deferrals, or transfers.