Here are some important details to know:

• Late registration will be available at Packet Pickup on Friday, Sept. 8, from 8am-5:30pm at Auburn-Opelika Tourism. (Located at 714 East Glenn Avenue, Auburn)

• Race-day late registration will be available on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 7-8am at Town Creek Park.

• Late registration fees are $45 for the 1-mile, $65 for the 5K, and $85 for the 10K. Cash or check only. All registration dollars go directly to Children's Hospital of Alabama.

Register to run or walk in Benjamin's Bone Marrow Blitz on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Town Creek Park in Auburn, Alabama! There will be a 10K, 5K, and 1 mile option so that everyone can participate! The 1-mile fun run will begin at 8 a.m. followed by a combined start for the 10K/5K at 8:30 a.m. If you cannot attend, but would like to make a donation, that option is also available.

Race Routes:

•    1-Mile:   https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/VGlZ2kpNtb
•    5K:   https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/vRYkOuZEAt/edit
•    10K:   https://routes.rungoapp.com/route/T8z61wWDQD

Benjamin’s Story:

Benjamin Bobo was born with a severe form of blood cancer – congenital Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). At just 5 weeks old, he was admitted to Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham where he endured five rounds of aggressive chemotherapy treatment. Each round of treatment required Benjamin to be inpatient for over 30 days. After over 170 days spent in the hospital, he was finally discharged in May 2023. Benjamin is blessed to be in remission, but not every child battling leukemia is as lucky. In fact, most of the other children we met needed a bone marrow transplant in addition to chemotherapy. And should Benjamin ever relapse, he would also need a bone marrow transplant.

Benjamin is doing well at home! He’s happy, chunky, and hitting his milestones. We have appointments at Children’s every four weeks to make sure there is no leukemia detected in his blood. You can read more about Benjamin’s story on his CaringBridge page. 

Why the Blitz?

Benjamin’s experience shed light on many, many needs in the pediatric oncology/hematology world. Firstly, there is a need for more bone marrow donors – especially for minority races. Be the Match will be on-site at the Blitz so participants can register (just a cheek swab!). Secondly, childhood cancer research is consistently underfunded. Each day, 47 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States, which means more than 17,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed each year. We hope that Benjamin’s Blitz will raise awareness of the need for bone marrow donors and all proceeds of the event will benefit pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital, right here in Alabama.

About Be the Match:

Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer like leukemia. For patients with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match® is a community of donors, volunteers, health care professionals and researchers who deliver cures by helping patients get the life-saving marrow transplant they need. Our passion to save lives drives us to help more patients survive each year. Learn more about Be the Match here. 

About The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital:

Each year, more than 190 children are diagnosed with cancer in Alabama. The diagnoses include leukemia, lymphoma, brain and spinal cord tumors, solid tumors of muscle and bone, kidney and liver tumors and rare childhood cancers. There are approximately 2,000 patients treated with serious blood disorders, including sickle cell disease and hemophilia that receive care from the center each year. Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders physicians are actively working toward the goal of a cure for all children through research and development of innovative therapies. Learn more here. 

Thank you to everyone who has registered, donated, prayed, and sponsored this event.