Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Virtual Run/Walk

October 9–15, 2026 is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Week — a time dedicated to remembering babies gone too soon, supporting grieving families, and raising awareness about a loss that affects millions of parents around the world. Pregnancy and infant loss can be an isolating experience, yet it touches countless lives. By participating in this virtual race, you’re helping create a space for remembrance, compassion, and understanding. This is a fully virtual event, which means you can complete your 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon from anywhere, at any pace, and on your own schedule during race week. Walk your neighborhood, run your favorite trail, use a treadmill, or gather friends and family for a meaningful group effort. However you choose to move, every step helps honor the memory of babies who are deeply loved and never forgotten. Whether you participate in memory of a child, to support someone affected by loss, or simply to help raise awareness, your participation matters. Together, even from miles apart, we can help ensure that no family has to grieve alone. How To Complete The Race • Choose your distance — 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon • Receive your digital race bib by email to print at home • Complete your distance anytime during race week — outdoors, indoors, solo, or with friends • Track your time if you’d like using any fitness app or device (optional) • Submit your time to see how you place overall and download your finisher certificate • Receive your commemorative medal (and shirt if purchased) shipped directly to your home • Join the Virtual Runs for a Purpose Facebook Group to share and celebrate with other participants. You can complete your miles all at once or break them up over several days. You can walk, jog, or run. You can even create or join a team, with each member participating on their own time and at their own chosen distance. Most importantly, this event is about remembrance, support, and awareness — not speed. Whether it takes you 30 minutes or several days, every step you take helps honor lives that will never be forgotten and brings visibility to a cause that deserves greater understanding. What Your Registration Includes Your registration is more than an entry — it's a way to honor precious lives, support grieving families, and be part of a nationwide movement during Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Week. When you sign up, you'll receive: • A Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness finisher medal shipped directly to your home • A personalized digital race bib to print and wear on your run or walk • A personalized finisher certificate once you complete your distance • Optional time submission to see how you placed among other participants • Access to our online community where participants share photos, stories, and encouragement throughout race week Whether you participate quietly on your own or share your journey with others, these items serve as a meaningful reminder that you took part in honoring babies gone too soon and supporting families affected by pregnancy and infant loss. Participate In Memory, In Honor, or In Support Many participants choose to dedicate their miles to someone special. You may be walking in memory of a baby, participating in honor of a family's journey, or showing support for those who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Consider sharing a photo, a name, a special memory, or taking a quiet moment of reflection during your race. These personal tributes are a meaningful way to honor loved ones and help others feel seen, supported, and remembered. If you feel comfortable, we encourage you to share your story with our community during race week. Your experience may provide comfort, connection, or hope to another family navigating loss. However you choose to participate, know that your steps are part of something bigger — a collective effort to remember, support, and raise awareness for families impacted by pregnancy and infant loss. Frequently Asked Questions • Do I have to track my time? How do I track it? No. Tracking your time is completely optional. You can use any fitness watch, treadmill display, or free mobile app if you’d like to record your time, but it is not required to participate. • Do I have to submit my time to receive my medal? No. All registered participants will receive their medal. Time submission is only needed if you would like to see how you placed overall and download your finisher certificate. • Do I have to complete the distance all at once? No. You are welcome to break up your distance over multiple days during race week. • Can I walk instead of run? Absolutely. You can walk, jog, or run at your own pace. This event is about awareness and participation — not speed. • Can my friends or family participate with me? Yes! You can create or join a team. Team members do not need to be in the same location and can complete their race on their own schedule. • Do all team members have to choose the same distance? No. Each participant can select the distance that works best for them. • How do I get my race bib? Your bib will be emailed to you after registration with a link to download and print at home. You’ll be assigned a personalized bib number automatically. • Is this race timed or competitive? This is primarily a participation-based awareness event. If you choose to submit your time, you’ll be able to see how you placed compared to other participants, but competition is not the focus. • When will medals and shirts ship? Medals will begin shipping in early September and continue through race week. Shirts are optional and are ordered separately after you register. On your registration confirmation page, you’ll see a link to place your shirt order through our print partner. You’ll also receive a follow-up email with this same link and instructions. Each shirt is made to order and ships directly to you within 7–10 business days of placing your order.