Pre-race Packet Pickup

Get Ready, Warriors!

Pre-race Packet Pickup will be held at City Bikes Aventura!

Date and Time:
Friday, March 3, 2023: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Saturday, March 4, 2023: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location:
City Bikes Aventura, 20335 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura, FL 33180

To Register or Create/Join a Team click "Sign Up"

To Register:
1. Click Sign Up to create your account 
2. Select event type (Virtual or In-person). Below "event type" the prompts will ask if you want to Create or Join a Team.
3. Review and Sign the Waiver

Want to help Ellie's Army even more? 

Create your own fundraising page by clicking "Become a Fundraiser" and voila!

You're helping spread the word about the Dirty Socks 5K and Ellie's Army Foundation's mission to assist children and young adults facing life-threatening illnesses!

You Can Be The Difference

Create a Facebook Fundraiser

You can easily make a difference in the lives of children and young adults facing life-threatening illnesses just by creating a Facebook fundraiser.

Here's how:
1.Sign In to RunSignup.
2.Go to your Profile.
3.Scroll down to the Fundraising section of your profile.
4.Click on your fundraiser name to go to your fundraising page.
5.If you are logged in to Facebook on your device, your fundraiser will automatically be created.
6.If you are not logged in to Facebook, you will be prompted to log in. Once you are logged in, your fundraiser will automatically be created.

After Ellie's 2nd double-lung transplant, the doctors all told her that she would have to walk if she wanted to recover. It was all about the walks. Even the next day after the surgery, they had her up on her feet walking, albeit only 10 steps or so. I don't know how she did it.

One day, Dr.Gustavo, the transplant surgeon with whom Ellie shared an incredible bond, came to see Ellie before leaving the hospital for the weekend. He told Ellie that he wanted her to walk 30 laps around the unit where she was staying. It was a seemingly impossible goal (as she had only walked 15 laps until that point), but he challenged her.

Early Monday morning, Gustavo came to see Ellie. He asked her, "So did you walk the 30 laps?"  "No," Ellie replied. He smiled, he knew that it was a lofty goal and that she wouldn't be able to do it. "31" Ellie said, "I walked 31 laps."

That was Ellie, she always had to do one more. She pushed the limits. She faced life's challenges head-on, never settling. She wanted to make a difference. And on that day, she wanted to live.

Sadly, Ellie did not survive, but she left us with many lessons. One of these was to aspire–to be the best that you could be–to strive to do the seemingly impossible. Ellie did not make it, but because of her resolve, her battle was magnificent. 

The number 31 has taken on tremendous meaning for us. It symbolizes that we must reach to exceed our limits. To fight. To fight for others, for our beliefs, and for ourselves. To give it all that you have got and then give some more. 

So, please, raise $31 or $310 or $3100!!! Walk the 3.1 miles that make up a 5K. Hop, skip, swim if you would like!! But take the challenge. Be a Warrior! Be magnificent! Be #EllieStrong.

Why Dirty Socks?

All children in the hospital wear medical
socks. They must walk to get well. Ellie’s
doctor told her he wanted to see dirty socks.
So...Ellie walked, and walked, and walked.

Check out our video to learn more!

Meet Talia's Family

When 3-year-old Talia was suddenly diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia, her father, Ahmad, began to miss work in order to be with her in the hospital. Because of this, his employer eventually let him go. Paying bills became a challenge and the family was facing foreclosure. Ellie’s Army Foundation paid his past due mortgage and saved the home. 

“This bought me some time to get back on my feet... Ellie’s Army said, ‘Don’t worry, we will help you.’ And they did. Because of them I still have my home.”

-Ahmad, Talia’s Father

We are so excited for this year's Dirty Socks 5K Run & Walkathon! 

As you can imagine, the cost associated with having a sick child is enormous. Because of tremendous medical bills, many families cannot afford their daily living expenses (rent/mortgage, electricity, food, etc.). Now, due to COVID-19, many parents have lost their jobs, or cannot work outside their homes for fear of bringing the virus home to their already compromised children. They know all too well that the virus would most likely be a death sentence for them.

The Dirty Socks 5K Run & Walkathon is going to be a blast! At the same time, we will be helping to relieve the financial burdens of these families so that all they need to worry about is helping their child fight to survive.

Be a Warrior, and get your socks dirty!

Will your employer MATCH your donation?

Each year, an estimated $4–$7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed.

With more than 26 million individuals working for companies with matching gift programs, you may be able to maximize your donation.

91% of companies will match their employees' charitable contributions dollar-for-dollar.