Run to benefit UNC Children's Hospital held virtually due to COVID-19

It is not easy being a college student right now during the coronavirus pandemic.

Posted 11:13 p.m. Oct 10, 2020 — Updated 11:13 p.m. Oct 10, 2020

Adam Owens

, WRAL anchor/reporter

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It is not easy being a college student right now during the coronavirus pandemic.

On top of that, some students organized a large charity run on Saturday. Like their classes, Saturday's event had to go virtual this year.

Cheryl Phillips of Carolina for the Kids is getting used to talking with people via Zoom.

"We have done a lot of Zoom meetings, a lot of Zoom meetings," Phillips said.

Phillips explained what their event, called Kilometers for the Kids, is and how it came together this year. The event is a race organized by UNC students to raise money for patients and families at UNC Children’s Hospital. With the coronavirus pandemic, an event usually held with lots of people outdoors was virtual this year.

"It has definitely been a challenging year," Phillips said.

Planning for the fundraiser started not long after the pandemic hit. Phillips said students at Carolina for the Kids never considered canceling the run.

"I think that was never an option because the work that we do is really important," Phillips said.

Since the event was virtual, participants could run and raise money where they were. Their socially-distanced runs could be seen online.

Phillips said going virtual seems to have expanded the reach of this year's run. There were race entries from New York, Pennsylvania and Kansas.

"I have friends in Mississippi who are running the event, and we have families from all over who can participate with us," Phillips said. "We have just been adapting and trying to roll with the punches."

The event started Friday and runs through the weekend. Last year, the event raised nearly $10,000 for UNC Children’s Hospital.

Suggest A Correction