2024 Racing for Rescues

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 5, 2024
Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

The 2024 Racing for Rescues event features:

• A timed 5K race with prizes for fastest runners in their age categories both WITH and WITHOUT dogs
• A separate one-mile walking course for people (and their dogs!) who prefer to take it easy
• A special event t-shirt
• NEW THIS YEAR a fun costume contest for people and their pets -- open to everyone! Several prizes available!
• An amazing raffle prize! (need not be present to win)
• Complimentary snacks and beverages to help you power up and cool down
• A vendor village catering to pet owners and athletes alike, including a "Make Your Own" Dog Treat bar

This event is also a hybrid event!
Folks can participate from anywhere in the U.S.! Remote participants are eligible for raffle and fundraising prizes!

Pawticipating remotely? Welcome! April 28 - May 5, 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.)
• Give stray and abandoned cats and dogs a second chance!

In-person races and walk:

5K Race starts: 9:00 a.m. for runners both WITH and WITHOUT a dog(s)

and Walkers start: 9:15 a.m.

Virtual race and walk: any day and time of your choosing April 28 – May 5.

See photos from the 2023 event

Adult/non-student in-person runners:

Early Bird Special through April 7: $35, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 15 – May 2 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $40, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of Event (May 5): $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 7: $30, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 15 – May 2 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of Event (May 5): $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 7: $30, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 15 – May 2 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of Event (May 5): $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 7: $25, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before/at event
April 15 – May 2 (5:00 p.m. Eastern): $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Day-of Event (May 5): $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event (shipping fees apply if not picking up)

photo for website 12 fam and dogs cropped

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

Early Bird Special through April 7: $30, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $35, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before event
April 15 – May 2: $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 7: $25, t-shirt included
April 8 – April 14: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive before event
April 15 – May 2: $30, t-shirt available for purchase ($15), receive after event
Shipping fees apply if not picking up shirts at Second Chance

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, 2024 (or at least be in touch with us about coming at a later date if needed); shirts remaining at the adoption center after July 2, 2024 will be considered donated back to Second Chance.

Really just here today for an official event t-shirt?

Click HERE to order one separately from registration, to order additional shirts, or to order a shirt after registering elsewhere.

photo for website 9 ta da finish cropped

Win a Race Prize!

Do you have a competitive streak?

The fastest runner 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 5! 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 April 28 to May 5, 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.

Have Fun on Race Day AND Raise Money for Second Chance!

We make it easy for you to set up your own fundraising page and encourage your family and friends (and colleagues!) to support you in raising money to support the animals.

Just email us and we’ll send you an easy-to-follow toolkit giving you everything you need to know to set up your page, set a goal, make a donation and ask for donations.

Click on this link to download our Peer-to-Peer toolkit! 2024 RFR P2P Toolkit

Everyone who creates a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign has a chance to WIN A PRIZE! We’ll be awarding prizes for (1) the most money raised overall, (2) the person who receives the most donations over $50, and (3) a randomly-selected person who raises $100 or more!

* *Need not be present to win!

Win a $1,000 Raffle Prize!

We’re raffling off an AMAZING prize!

You can win by purchasing your tickets HERE by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, May 3, 2024, 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, you don’t need to be present to win (or even registered for the in-person or virtual event!)

THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AT HARTSFIELD and NASH INSURANCE FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS YEAR’S RAFFLE PRIZE!

From Snapshot to Mascot:

The 2024 Design REVEALED!

We once again gave YOUR pets the oppawtunity to be the star of the show! Many pet parents submitted their photos for the contest and now, we’re thrilled to release this year’s design featuring Gemma and Hobbes!

Thanks to all who entered the contest! Because of you, more homeless animals will be adopted into the kind of loving forever homes enjoyed by Gemma and Hobbes.

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.

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 $100 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!

Don’t miss this collector’s item or the chance to dress up your fridge or car!

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 3 (3:00 – 6:00 p.m.) and one at our adoption center (6003 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 133, in Raleigh) on Saturday, May 4 (12:00 – 4:00 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 before April 14) can pick shirts up at either Fleet Feet or Second Chance, but not at the event; those who register April 18 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

Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park is located at 2401 Grigsby Avenue in Holly Springs. Parking is free and volunteers will be on-site to assist with parking.

Timing of the Events

8:00 am — Registration and check-in opens for all runners and walkers, Vendor Village is OPEN!
8:30 am — Costume parade and meet our adoptable dogs!
9:00 am — 5K race for runners WITHOUT dogs starts AND all walkers start
9:15 am — 5K race for runners WITH dogs starts
10:00 am — Agility Demonstration
10:30 am — Awards Announced: 5K awards, Costume Contest, Fundraising Awards, Winners of Raffle Prizes
12:00 pm — Event concludes

Food and Vendors

Food

We will have water, fruit and post-race snacks available. Some vendors may offer additional food and/or beverages (for a separate fee.) Of course, you can also bring your own!

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 2024 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.