The Joey Fabus Superhero Run Over DIPG 5K race and 1-mile walk is back and will take place at 9 a.m. Sept. 12 at Bethel Park High School.

Registrations are being accepted until Sept. 11.

Organizers of the event took a one-year hiatus because of covid-19 pandemic concerns.

The costs for the 5K run are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under, and for the 1-mile family fun run/walk is $15. Prices increase from Sept. 1-11 to $30 (adult) and $15 (child). The fee for the walk is $15 through Sept. 11.

A virtual 5K run/walk ($25 fee) and virtual 1-mile walk ($15 fee) also are being offered this year. Registration ends July 31 for the virtual events.

“We had five successful races and then had to pause last year due to covid. We are bringing it back this year,” said Jonna Burke, Bethel Park girls basketball coach and co-race director with Jeff Smith, who handles communications with race participants via emails. “Our goal is to get the race back up and running again, so we are trying to keep costs to a minimum.

“We will have age group awards, and will give T-shirts and medals to participants. We also will have some fun activities (games and crafts, weather permitting) for kids to participate in, and we are offering a virtual option for people who are out of the area or not comfortable being in crowds yet. This is the first year we have offered the virtual option, partly due to covid and also to try to get more participation, in general.”

Joey Fabus was 8 years old and a second-grade student when he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in May 2014. His cancer was termed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which has a 0% survival rate. Joey passed away Jan. 15, 2015, nine months after his diagnosis.

His family and friends formed the Joey Fabus Childhood Cancer Foundation in his honor and to raise money for research and to help families that receive the same devastating diagnosis. Current treatment options have not been successful. More research and funding are needed.

“Dave and Cindy Fabus, Joey’s parents, are obviously very involved in the race,” Burke said.

Participants can celebrate Joey’s love of Superheroes by wearing a favorite Superhero costume at the race.

Covid-19 requirements/restrictions will be followed at the race to protect everyone in attendance.

Awards will be presented to the first three male and female 5K finishers, and the top three in eight male and female age divisions. Trophies will be awarded to the male and female master’s division contestants.

T-shirts are guaranteed for in-person participants only if registered by Sept. 1.

The 5K race/walk took place in September for five consecutive years until 2020.

In 2019, Jenna Lang of Bethel Park took first place among female runners with a time of 18:57.37, followed by Katie Smith (22:34.6) of Pittsburgh and Danielle Tomley (22:43.6) of Canonsburg. All three were 13 years old at that time.

Ryan Pajak from nearby Eighty-Four was the top male runner thanks to a 17:01.58 effort. The then-14-year old Pajak was trailed by Bob Teagarden, 45, of Pittsburgh and Michael Geisler, 47, of New Market, Md., in second and third with 19:37.92 and 19:53:41 times.

“Ryan and two of the (top) female finishers were from St. Thomas More School,” Smith said, “which always gets a big group together for the race and really shows how our community comes together for the event.”

Visit the race website at runsignup.com for questions and/or more information about this year’s fundraiser.

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