JJ's Journey for a Cause

Join Us for the 6th Annual JJ’s Journey for a Cause 5K!

Join us in celebrating our sweet angel JJ’s 6th birthday! We can’t think of a better way to honor JJ than by coming together as a community to run, walk, and move our feet #forJJ! Whether you’re racing for a personal best, enjoying a morning walk, or simply showing your support, we invite you to be part of this special day as we honor JJ’s life and help make a difference for other families.

The celebration doesn’t end at the finish line! Stick around after the race to celebrate JJ’s birthday with us. We’ll have music, snacks, balloons, and entertainment as we spend time together remembering our sweet boy and celebrating the impact he continues to make.

Every dollar raised will benefit First Candle, an organization dedicated to supporting families who have experienced the loss of a baby and working toward a future free from SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. Through this event, we hope to support grieving families, raise awareness, and help fund the research needed to prevent other families from experiencing this unimaginable loss.

Our Story

In November of 2021 our world changed forever when we unexpectedly lost our 5-month-old son, JJ. He was a perfectly healthy, happy baby who was thriving and enjoying life. What began as a typical Friday morning for our family became every parent’s worst nightmare when we received the call that JJ had gone down for his morning nap at daycare and never woke up.

We did everything we were supposed to do, and despite the heartbreak and countless questions, we still have no answers as to what caused his death.

Since losing JJ, we have made it our mission to honor his life in a way that can help other families. What began as a way to celebrate our son’s birthday has grown into an annual tradition that brings our community together for a purpose bigger than ourselves. Through JJ’s Journey for a Cause, we hope to raise money for SIDS research, support bereaved families, and help prevent other parents from experiencing the loss we know all too well.

JJ’s life was far too short, but his impact continues to grow with every person who shows up, every step taken, and every dollar raised in his memory.

Thank you for being part of JJ’s journey. We are so grateful to have you alongside us as we continue to celebrate his life, honor his memory, and make a difference #forJJ. 

Race Details

Cost:   

5K $30 per person

     **Price increase 30 days prior to race day**

Ages 5 and under: Free (won't receive a bib for timing)

Kids Fun Run (Color Run)
This race will be geared towards elementary school-aged kids, ideally ages 5-12.  It will take place on a much shorter course (less than one mile).  Kids will be sprinkled with color powder while running to create a fun "color run" experience!! 

Awards

Awards this year are being presented by Pace Yourself Run Company! A local running store in Wendell, NC. 

Awards will be presented to:

• Top 3 male & female finishers overall
• Top male & female finisher in each age division 1-18,19-24,25-29,30-34,35-39,40-49,50-59,60-69,70+.

***DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR GUARANTEED TSHIRT SIZE IS MAY 3, 2027!!!***

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!
We will need to have everyone's requested shirt sizes about a month in advance in order to know how many of each size to order and allow time for production.

Sizes Available:  See specific race options at registration. 

Packet Pick Up

There will be two options for packet pick up prior to race day. The first packet pick up will be held Thursday June 3rd from 5-7 p.m. at Pace Yourself run store in downtown Wendell. The second packet pick up will be held Friday June 4th from 5-8 p.m. at the Farmhouse Cafe in Wendell Falls. If you are not able to attend either of the pre-race packet pick up dates we will also be offering packet pick up on race day but you must arrive early! 

5K Race will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Packet pick up will be from 6:00am-7:30am (Really suggest either picking up the night before or one of the other times during the week if you are local)

Kids fun run will begin at 9:00am shortly after the 5K begins. This is to allow for the racers to start earlier before it gets too hot and to allow everything to remain on the same day.

Virtual 5K:

We will also be offering a virtual option for people who would like to participate in JJ's Journey but are not local. You will complete your 3.1 miles anytime between May 30th-June 5th and submit your time to the RaceJoy app. 

Follow us on social media @jjsjourneyforacause and tag us in your posts using #run4JJ !!!