Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available

(Kill Devil Hills, N.C.) Online registration is underway for the Second Annual Cupcake 5K race in Kill Devil Hills on May 20th, benefiting the American Cancer Society as part of the Relay for Life weekend.

Adult registration fees are $20 and $25, with under-16 registration $15 online; for details, click on the Cupcake 5K link at www.obxrelayforlife.org.

“The cupcake with its candle signifies the individual birthday, and through fundraising, more research can be accomplished and procedures fine tuned, creating the tagline line for the race, ‘Racing toward a world with more birthdays,’” Shane Miles, race director, said.

Race organizers are reaching out to competitive runners, casual athletes, cancer survivors, caregivers of cancer patients, and individuals wanting to run in honor of a loved one or close friend to help raise awareness of the fight against cancer. The race begins at 8:30 and snakes through the streets adjacent to the Wright Brothers Memorial in the beautiful Outer Banks.

The race was born out of discussions between Miles and the 2011 Relay for Life Chair Linda Sabadic, who were trying to figure-out a way to get Relay participants to stick around on Sunday after the 24-hour Relay event. Many of the participants in the early legs of the Relay on Saturday were leaving that night, with only a small percent returning on Sunday.

“What could we do that would bring people back to the event Sunday morning? Why not a race? After some time doing some research I formed a small committee and had our first initial meeting. It was that night The Cupcake 5k was born!” Miles explained.

According to Miles, the inaugural Cupcake 5K race complimented the Relay for Life as it introduced a whole new spectrum of individuals to the Relay event and organization.

“While we are all connected in some way to cancer, not everyone gets involved in the efforts to do something about it. This race brought people out the day before to the Relay for Life event to pick up their Cupcake 5K race packets and exposed them to the event for the first time.

The 2011 race attracted runners from North Carolina, with a handful from neighboring states and as far north as Pennsylvania.

One of the participants last year was a gentleman named Bobby Todd, who Miles said showed up Sunday morning just before the race and asked if he could walk the course instead of run it, as just six months before he had a stroke and was told he might not walk again.

Using a walker, Todd set out on the 5K race course.

“When all the runners and walkers had finished the race, we received a phone call that Bobby Todd was about to reach the last leg of the run which was the entrance on to the track for the last three quarter lap,” Miles recalled.

“Our MC made the announcement to the crowd and suggested we all get behind Bobby for this last leg and walk with him until he reaches the finish line. Everyone obliged and the sight was nothing short of spectacular,” he said, adding, “I was honored to place the survivor medal around his neck.”

At this year’s Cupcake 5K, all cancer survivor and caregiver finishers will receive a Survivor medal, and there will be a delicious treat waiting at the finish line for all participants. The field is limited to 200 runners and walkers. Sponsorship opportunities are still available; for more information, contact Shane Miles at info@shanemiles.com.

About the OBX Relay for Life
The Relay for Life is an overnight relay-style event with teams of people camping out around a track. Members of each team take turns walking around the track for the duration of the event, with food, games and activities provide entertainment and fundraising opportunities. For more information visit www.obxrelayforlife.org.