Everything you need to know about Palmetto Health Foundation’s Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 5K + 10K.

You know that friend who always wants you to do a half-marathon with them? That one you roll your eyes at? No one is more surprised than me when I admit that I am that friend this year.

Our team is pumped for the annual Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 5K + 10K, presented by Nephron Pharmaceuticals, on October 14. 🎀 👟 Why? Because it’s not a regular walk and marathon. It’s a cool walk and marathon.

Photo courtesy Palmetto Health Foundation

Besides the fact that the proceeds go to Palmetto Health Breast Center (this year’s race will help fund a seventh 3D mammography machine) – here are some reasons why people love it.

You can name your team something crazy. Like Hakuna Ma Tatas, Holy Walkamolies, Ya Ya’s for Ta Ta’s or The Rack Pack (goals).

You get to dress up.

I mean, these people go all out. Think boas, tutus, wigs, butterfly wings, dinosaur costumes.

Photo courtesy Palmetto Health Foundation

In fact – we’re giving away a swag bag full of crazy, hot pink gear for the walk and race. Enter on Instagram.

It raises a ton of money to help a ton of people.

$700,000 | money raised from last year’s event

$9 million | total dollars raised by the event + given to Palmetto Health Breast Center

40,000 | mammograms performed each year by Palmetto Health Breast Center

25 | states represented by marathon runners in 2016

26,200 | number of steps from start to finish in the Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon

8,000 | number of muffins donated one year by Otis Spunkmeyer

Even some ways people have fundraised are awesome. Here’s hoping I’m invited to a fun-raiser like last year’s “Home Grown Beards for Breasts” benefit (men growing their beards for donations) or “Chivers and Chivettes” fundraiser.

You can help raise money by eating + drinking.

A bunch of local spots are having percent nights benefiting the Foundation: Terra (Sept. 14), Village Idiot in Five Points (Sept. 21), Villa Tronco (Sept. 28), Groucho’s (Oct. 3) + Mayor’s Isabel Law Breast Cancer Breakfast (Oct. 6) to name a few.

Photo courtesy Palmetto Health Foundation

You can register as an individual for $35-75 at WalkForLifeColumbia.org, or rally your coworkers, football tailgate group or your fam and register as a team (BYOwitty name).

Pro tip: Plan your annual State Fair trip (with that same group, or other people if you get tired of them) for Oct. 14 or 15 and wear your race t-shirt to get into the fair for free.

Usually, you won’t catch me running unless there’s a fire, but I’m actually excited to do Walk for Life this year – I’ve heard the energy you feel there is incredible, like you’re coming together with your community to do something really great. And we could all use a little dose of that feel-good buzz right now.

–Chloe

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