Zebra 5K In New Hope Goes Virtual

NEW HOPE, PA — A 5K run in New Hope has been re-imagined in the time of COVID.

The Zebra 5K, now in its third year, is inviting everyone to do the run any time between now and Feb. 28, which is International Rare Disease Day.

The run is sponsored by New Hope Run Club and Avery's Hope, a local nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for children with rare GI diseases. The group is named after its founder's grandson, Avery Harris, who was born with a rare disease that required most of his first year to be spent in hospitals, including Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

This year, the Zebra 5K will have both local and virtual categories. Locally,runners and walkers are being asked to register online and, instead of paying an entry fee, to pledge any amount in the name of a local sponsor.

Those donations will be split evenly between the charity and a gift card to the local business — an effort designed to help New Hope businesses that have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.

In-person runs will be happening the week of Feb. 22-28 in New Hope, with rolling start times to help with social distancing.

The virtual 5K can be run anywhere and at any time. Organizers are asking for a $39 registration fee.

Money raised supports the clinical nutrition department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Families can get clinical nutritional care for their children without worry about travel expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and more.