2026 Joey's Wings 5K & Bubble Crane Kids Run

Joseph was a healthy, energetic 12-year-old whose biggest concerns were school, fishing, LEGO, and whatever adventure he could find next. He was a straight-A student in advanced classes, the kind of kid who believes everyone deserves a friend, and someone who has always had a heart much bigger than his age.

Then, in August 2026, everything changed.

Joseph began complaining of stomach pain that initially seemed like severe constipation. Within hours, the pain became unbearable and he began vomiting. We took him to the hospital expecting answers, medicine, and hopefully some relief.

Instead, imaging revealed a large mass in his abdomen.

A biopsy confirmed that Joseph had Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and extremely aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Burkitt lymphoma can grow incredibly quickly, which meant there was almost no time to process what was happening. Within four days of discovering the mass, Joseph had undergone extensive testing, received his official diagnosis, and started chemotherapy. Testing showed no cancer in Joseph’s spinal fluid and no cancer in his bone marrow. There have also been frightening moments, painful procedures, difficult side effects, and days when the reality of childhood cancer feels impossibly heavy.

One of those moments came when Joseph’s hair began falling out from chemotherapy. Rather than waiting to watch it come out in large clumps, Joseph made the decision himself that it was time to shave his head. It was another choice cancer forced a 12-year-old to make far too soon, but he handled it with the same courage and grace he has shown throughout this fight.

We do not know every chapter that lies ahead, but we know that Joseph’s diagnosis will not be the only thing that defines his story.

His courage will.

His kindness will.

His faith will.

7:30 AM Onsite registration and Packet Pickup

8:30 AM 5K/Walk begins

8:40 AM 1 mile Bubble Crane Kids Run

10 AM Awards

Direction

If you google the "Charles R. Perry Construction Institute", it will lead you directly to the course and parking.

Race shirt and medal are free! Come and get a special designed origami crane medal with gator color ribbon!

Calling all little runners, walkers, and dreamers! Join us for the Joey’s Wings 1-Mile Bubble Crane Kids Run, a joyful, family-friendly run where bubbles fill the air and origami cranes carry a message of hope.

Created especially for children, this one-mile fun run celebrates courage, childhood, and hope while raising awareness for childhood cancer. Kids can run, walk, skip, or dance their way along the course as they make their way through clouds of bubbles and cross the finish line surrounded by cheers.

The origami crane holds a special place in the story of Joey’s Wings. Inspired by Joey’s love of origami, each crane represents hope—hope for better treatments, hope for cures, and hope for every child facing cancer.

🫧 Distance: 1 mile
🕊️ Who: Kids of all ages and abilities are welcome
🏃 Run, walk, skip, or dance!
🎗️ Purpose: Supporting Joey’s Wings Foundation and the fight against childhood cancer

Come run through the bubbles, celebrate our kids, and help us fill the course—and our community—with hope.

Little feet. Big hope. Together, we run for a cure.

Winners of different age groups will get a one week summer camp from O2B kids! A value of $259! 

There are four age groups, 6 – 11, 12 – 18, 19 - 49, and 50+, each category placing top 3 males and females. Results are chip-timed and will be published immediately after the run. We will have an awards ceremony for the top 3 finishers in each age group at 10am.

Want to get more involved and help fundraise for Joey's Wings? Create a team, recruit runners to sign up for your team and ask friends, family, and businesses for donations! There will be two awards for fundraising teams: one for the team with the most runners and one for the team that raises the most money. Click the team tab (on the left) to get started!