Cupid’s Undie Run Forced to Change… But Just Barely

A Valentine’s Day tradition, where thousands of people shed their pants and run for a good cause, will now be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cupid’s Undie Run, which usually hosts large crowds in major cities around the country, is opting for a socially distanced version of the event in 2021.

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The challenge welcomes participants to walk, run, skate, and bike around their cities to fundraise money in support of research to end neurofibromatosis (NF), a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow within the nervous system.

There will also be a live virtual celebration on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. to celebrate the mile run with the hashtag #MileThatMatters. The celebration includes dancing, live entertainment, drinks, drinking games, and drink tutorials from the comfort of your home.

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Participants are able to host their own DIY fundraising events with materials provided by the organization to help them with the hashtag #EndNF. In return, participants can earn rewards such as Valentine-themed masks and backpacks.

Cupid’s Undie Run began in Washington D.C. in 2010 to support the research of curing NF. Since then, Cupid’s Undie Run has raised over $20,850,000 through the help of over 107,000 runners, partners, volunteers and more. All of the proceeds go to funding research to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, which is the world’s leader in NF research.

To see a traditional undie run, here is how Washington, D.C. celebrated in 2017:

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About Jasmine Boykin

Jasmine Boykin was an intern with Montgomery Community Media in the spring of 2021. At the time, she was studying multimedia journalism and Spanish at the University of Maryland.

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