Hicksville's Sarah Grace Foundation Holds Virtual 5K

HICKSVILLE, NY — The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer, Inc. hosted its first-ever virtual 5K race this spring, raising $4,800 to continue providing important programs and services for children and families affected by pediatric cancer.

The “Hugs for Sarah 2021 Virtual 5K” drew nearly 100 participants from all across the country, with people from New York, Florida, Texas, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma showing their support. Twenty participants came from the robotics team at Hicksville High School and all walked the event together. All racers were encouraged to share photos from their own virtual 5k on social media with the hashtag #HugsForSarah5k, and everyone received a personalized race bib and finishers medal.

“This certainly shows that in the almost 19 years we have been spreading Sarah’s story and supporting these wonderful children, word has traveled across the country about the good works being done in Sarah’s name,” said foundation president Matthew Weippert.

The Hicksville-based Sarah Grace Foundation is named in honor of Sarah Grace Weippert, who lost her nine-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in November 2002 at 12 years old. A 5K race equates to 3.1 miles, and this year, Sarah would have turned 31 on March 31. All proceeds from the race will support the programs and activities of The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer, an all-volunteer organization. Core programs include The Escape Hatch, Gabe’s Chemo Duck, The Bead Program, Sarah Grace’s Book Angels and holiday toy distributions. The foundation also provides financial aid for families, including meals, transportation, household expenses and funeral expenses.

“We’re thrilled with how successful the event was, and with how much fun people had sharing their photos online,” Weippert said. “The results have inspired us to hopefully continue events like these, whether they are virtual or in-person, as we continue our mission to support children with cancer.”

The foundation is currently working on additional virtual-based fundraising efforts. If you would like to donate online, please visit the foundation’s website by clicking here. If you would prefer to mail in a donation, it can be mailed to the Sarah Grace Foundation at 17 East Old Country Road, Unit B, PMB 202, Hicksville, NY, 11801.