2023 Racing for Rescues

POST-EVENT UPDATES:

Thanks to all who registered to run or walk in-person or remotely (over 500 of you!), bought raffle tickets, set up fundraisers, donated, and sponsored the event, this year’s event raised over $53,000 for animals in need! Because of you, more stray and abandoned cats and dogs will get a second chance to know love, and for that, we are so grateful!

You can now see an event photo album by clicking HERE.

Runners can see their timing right HERE.

Our winners for this event were:

All first-place runners in each age/sex category (gold medals)
Addie Oversmith and Harper Clark as our fastest runners (Fleet Feet gift cards)
Judy Ruggero (raffle winner of $750 in gift cards)
Lisa Best, Tammy Commons, Lisa Imhof, Donna Tucker, and Matt Kollman (fundraising competition and mini-challenge prizes)

IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE: Due to the fast spread of canine influenza in the Triangle at the moment, we have made the difficult decision to exclude dogs from this event. Though we are deeply disappointed to leave all adoptable dogs and everyone’s pets at home, this illness is serious and can be fatal so this decision has been made to protect the health and happiness of our four-legged friends. PLEASE NOTE that there will only be one 5K rather than two and it will begin at 9:30; additionally, the walk has been moved up to 10:10. We apologize for the inconvenience and will very much miss seeing our canine companions!

Unleash the Giving: Donate to a Participant or to the Event Goal!

Win Big: Purr-chase Raffle Tickets! (Need not be present to win!)

Sunday, May 7, 2023
C.M. Herndon Park
8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The 2023 Racing for Rescues event features:

• A timed 5K race with prizes for fastest runners
• A 1.5-mile walking course for people who prefer to take it easy
• A unique event t-shirt featuring actual Second Chance pets!
• A raffle prize of $750 in gift cards (need not be present to win)
• Complimentary snacks and beverages to help you power up
• A vendor village catering to pet owners and athletes alike

This event is now a hybrid event!
Folks can participate from anywhere in the U.S.!

Pawticipating remotely? Welcome! May 1 - 7, you'll be able to:

• Submit your 5K results to see how your timing compares (optional, of course)
• Receive the official event t-shirt (we can mail to anywhere in the U.S.)
• Save the lives of stray and abandoned cats and dogs!

In-person races and walk:

5K Race: 9:30 a.m. (PLEASE NOTE: as there is now only one race, rather than one with and one without dogs, it will start at 9:30 for ALL runners)

Walk: 10:10 a.m. (PLEASE NOTE: time moved from 10:20 to 10:10 since there is now just one race)

Virtual race and walk: any day and time of your choosing May 1 – 7.

See photos from the 2022 event

See the 2022 finish line photos (runners only)

Registration Fee Schedule and Important Notes About T-Shirts:

Any remote participants who opt to pick their shirts up from Second Chance (rather than having them mailed) will be asked to pick up by July 1, 2023 (or at least be in touch with us about coming at a later date if needed); shirts remaining at the adoption center July 2, 2023 will be considered donated back to Second Chance.

Adult/non-student in-person runners:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $35, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 17 – May 5 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of (May 7 at the event): $45, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event (shipping fees apply if not picking up)

Student in-person runners:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $30, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 17 – May 5 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of (May 7 at the event): $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event (shipping fees apply if not picking up)

Adult/non-student in-person walkers:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $30, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 17 – May 5 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of (May 7 at the event): $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event (shipping fees apply if not picking up)

Student in-person walkers:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $25, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 17 – May 5 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of (May 7 at the event): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event (shipping fees apply if not picking up)

Remote (virtual) adult/non-student runners and walkers:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $30, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before event
April 17 – May 7: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Shipping fees apply if not picking up shirts at Second Chance

Remote (virtual) student runners and walkers:

Early Bird Special through April 9: $25, t-shirt included
April 10 – April 16: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before event
April 17 – May 7: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Shipping fees apply if not picking up shirts at Second Chance

Really just here today for an official event t-shirt? Click HERE to order one separately from registration, or to order additional shirts, or to order a shirt after registering elsewhere.

Win a Race Prize!

Do you have a competitive streak? Do you enjoy competing against others, or even against yourself?

The fastest runners in each of the age categories in the Male, Female, and Open categories for the race receive medals! Additionally, the overall fastest runners in Male, Female, and Open win a $50 Fleet Feet gift card to stock up on more athletic gear!

What are you waiting for? Sign up today to compete in your first real 5K, improve your time, push yourself further, or take one of our awards on May 7! You gotta be in it to win it, so sign up now!

Remote runners: we’re unable to send medals and prizes to our virtual runners, but from May 1 to May 7, you’ll be able to submit your timing through Strava (if you use it) or manually to see where you rank in this event. Timings for in-person runners will also be made visible after the event if you’d like to test your speed against all Racing for Rescues participants.

**Win a Fundraising* Prize!**

Win a great prize AND make a difference for the animals in our community! Every dollar raised helps to support the animals in our program and those in need of support in and around the Raleigh area.

While some of the animals we rescue require extra medical care and surgery, all will incur routine costs such as food ($15-$40), testing ($15), vaccinations ($15-20), defleaing and dewormer ($20-$70), and microchipping ($7.50). Additionally, all of our animals are spayed or neutered before adoption, with costs for cats and dogs ranging up to $159. In total, the average cat in our program needs $230 worth of care, while the average dog needs $750 worth of care–and as an independent nonprofit organization that receives no government funding or support from national rescues, Second Chance can only provide this care thanks to our fundraisers and donors.

Any funds you raise from your friends and family help homeless cats and dogs find their forever homes and help us pay for spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats and those owned by low-income guardians to proactively combat animal homelessness.

Personalized, custom-made prizes will be given to:

the fundraiser who raises the most money
the fundraiser who raises the most gifts of at least $10 (number of donations from unique donors)
one fundraiser who raises at least $100, who will be chosen at random among all fundraisers who raised $100+

Each fundraiser easily builds their own fundraising webpage (similar to GoFundMe) and can share the link with friends and family, asking them to support you as you become a hero for the animals–we even provide you with all the tools you need to make the ask, so don’t be shy, sign up today by clicking HERE!

ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK? Facebook fundraisers are also eligible** for this competition! To create a Facebook fundraiser for our animals, click HERE. It takes just a minute!

Need not be registered to run/walk to set up a fundraiser/win a prize!

*All donations must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, May 5, 2023 to count towards this competition.

**Fundraisers that begin February 12, 2023 or later are eligible.

See more about all of the prizes, including additional pictures, right HERE! YOU choose which of the 3 you want!

Win a Mini-Challenge Prize!

The 10-day mini-challenge returns! If you raise just $8 during this quick fundraising burst, you could win a $50 gift card to Insomnia Cookies! Click HERE to learn all about this challenge to help the animals!

Win a Raffle Prize!

We’re raffling off $750 in gift cards: $500 to Amazon and $250 to Target! You can win by purchasing your tickets HERE by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, May 5, 2023, or by purchasing tickets at the event with cash, check, Venmo, or credit card.

Not sure if you’ll make it or planning to participate remotely? Play it safe and buy tickets online, and no worries, need not be present (or even registered for the in-person or virtual event) to win!

NOTE: The Amazon gift card will be sent to the winner via email; the Target gift card can be mailed or emailed to the winner, according to their preference.

Thank you to Hartsfield and Nash Insurance Agency for sponsoring this year’s raffle!

From Snapshot to Mascot: The 2023 Design REVEALED!

After offering our first-ever Snapshot to Mascot contest in 2021, we once again gave YOUR pets the oppawtunity to be the star of the show! Many pet parents submitted their photos for the contest HERE and now, we’re thrilled to release this year’s design featuring Merlynne and Bandit!

Merlynne and Bandit are both Second Chance graduates (which, while not a requirement for winning, is really sweet!) whose lives were impacted by the support of those who participated in Racing for Rescues in years prior.

Merlynne, now an astonishing TWENTY YEARS OLD, is living out her retirement years in the comfort of the home she’s known for over 15 years now!

Bandit, who was found in the mountains as a stray with a broken hip, moved into his forever home just before Giving Tuesday 2021, and in fact, we shared a video pupdate with his story (x-ray included) and lots of photos of his adventurous new life just before Giving Tuesday 2022! See it right HERE.

Thanks to all who entered the contest, more homeless animals will be adopted into the kind of loving forever homes enjoyed by Merlynne and Bandit. We think these beautiful babies look fantastic against the oh-so-soft mint green fabric and we can’t wait to see everyone wearing it on May 7 as we run and walk to save lives!

Please see the notes above regarding the t-shirt inclusion schedule, post-event t-shirt mailings, and the ability to order shirts through the form linked above.

mockup-of-a-gildan-t-shirt-with-a-crew-neck-m30582 - Copy

Give a Little Heart and Sole–and Get Spotlight Recognition and a Magnet!

Are you all in for animals in need? Prove it by making a Heart and Sole donation when you register for the virtual or in-person event!

All who donate $25 or more in addition to their registration fee will be recognized at the in-person event through our Heart and Sole spotlight, where you’ll be able to find your name, big and bold! And, all who donate $50 or more will also receive a 4″ x 4″ magnet, designed just for this event with a graphic that plays on the Second Chance logo!

Don’t miss this collector’s item or the chance to dress up your fridge or car–register and make your donation today!

Race Day Information

Early Packet-Pickup

For those who wish to get their bibs, shirts, and doggy bags before the event, we’re offering two opportunities for early packet pick-up: one at Fleet Feet (3524 Wade Ave. in Raleigh) on Friday, May 5 (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.) and one at our adoption center (6003 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 133, in Raleigh) on Saturday, May 6 (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.). All other in-person attendees who are waiting until the event can pick up their items at the Registration/Check-In tent.

Remote attendees who register April 16 or earlier can pick shirts up at Fleet Feet or Second Chance, but not at the event; those who register April 17 or later and ordered shirts will pick up their shirts from the adoption center later in May (when shirts arrive–we will email you) or have their shirts mailed to the address with which they registered (if you paid for shipping when ordering the shirt).

Address and Parking

C.M. Herndon Park is located at 511 Scott King Road, Durham, NC 27713. Parking is free and volunteers will be on-site to assist with directing you in. The parking lot and roads will not close, so access to exit is available at all times.

Timing of the Events

8:30 — Check-in opens for all runners and walkers who registered in advance
8:30 — Registration opens for 5K runners who haven’t yet signed up
9:00 — Registration opens for walks who haven’t yet signed up
9:30 — The 5K race takes off (PLEASE NOTE: there is now only one 5K instead of one with dogs and one without dogs; all runners will hit the course at 9:30)
10:10 — The walkers set out (PLEASE NOTE: now that there is only one race, the time for the walk has moved from 10:20 to 10:10)
10:30 — 5K medals and prizes given out
11:00 — Raffle and fundraising prizes given out
11:30 — Event concludes

Food and Vendors

Food

Food and beverages may be available for purchase from food/beverage vendors at this event (if there are any who sign up). Of course, you can also count on some complimentary items like nuts and fruit to power you up before you take off on the course!

Vendors

You can look forward to visiting dozens of vendor booths to learn more about local businesses that cater to runners, pet owners, and lots of other clientele! Check in for freebies, goods for sale, and more.

VENDORS: Click HERE to download the 2023 Vendor Form and return it to us to join the fun!

COVID-19 Protocols

Second Chance Pet Adoptions will be following any pandemic-related rules set in place by applicable governments on the day of the event. We appreciate your cooperation with the protocols in place at that time.