There’s something special about watching a community come together on a Saturday morning, lacing up their sneakers and hitting the pavement not just for personal goals, but for a greater one. On July 26th, we held our first-ever Stellar Wonderz 5K. Thanks to every person who showed up and participated in our run, we’re proud to share that 50% of money we raised, $1000, will be donated to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Whether you ran, walked, donated, or simply cheered us on, you helped make a difference.
Running regularly improves cardiovascular strength by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow, and protecting your heart health in the long term. These benefits work together to keep your heart strong, reducing your risk of heart disease as you age.
Regular activity also helps to reduce stress by releasing endorphins helps regulate levels of cortisol, the hormone linked to stress, while also acting as an emotional release. Over time, this helps to create a more balanced and positive mindset.
Staying active also helps you feel grounded, both mentally and physically. This also helps enhance memory, focus and function, making it easier to stay alert and focused throughout the day. Along with improving sleep quality, running frequently fosters good habits, creating positive changes to your daily life.
But it also carries a quiet lesson of grit and discipline, setting smaller goals in your life as you go after larger ones. Every step teaches us to push through discomfort, keep promises to yourself and set goals. And for you to continuously show up and push through, even when it’s hard, is a victory on its own. That we can keep going, even when we want to stop.
And that’s exactly why we chose a 5K for this event. Because it mirrors what the patients we help go through every day!
Ever wondered why a marathon is 26.2 miles? Well, this story dates all the way back to ancient Greece, during a time of war between the Greek and the Persian Empire. After the Greeks achieved victory at the Battle of Marathon, a messenger named Pheidippides was tasked to bring the news all the way back to Athens. He ran the entire distance without stopping. When he ultimately reached the city, and delivered this message… he collapsed from exhaustion. Pheidippides didn’t run for glory. He ran for his people. His journey symbolizes the endurance and perseverance needed to complete the 26.2-mile race.
That’s what our 5K was all about.
And that is the message we want to bring to patients!
You can submit your pet to our Scribbling Program for a custom drawing, join our wonderful group of volunteers who help bring StellarWonderz crafts to life, or simply share our story so others can join in spreading hope and joy.
Group, GatherTales Content. “The Myth of Pheidippides and the Marathon.” FabulaHub, 30 July 2024, fabulahub.com/en/story/the-myth-of-pheidippides-and-the-marathon/sid-175. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
Linden, David. “The Truth behind ‘Runner’s High’ and Other Mental Benefits of Running.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, John Hopkins Medicine, 2022, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-truth-behind-runners-high-and-other-mental-benefits-of-running.
Wheeler, Tyler. “Health Benefits of Running.” WebMD, 18 July 2023, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/health-benefits-running.