Run for Chad Carr goes off Saturday

The Carr Family’s third RunTough for ChadTough, a one-mile fun run and a 5K with a virtual race (running for ChadTough in a different locale) — which has at least one participant in each of the 50 states — is Saturday at Saline High.

It begins at 9 a.m. and concludes by 11. The Michigan-Penn State game at Michigan Stadium begins at 3:30 p.m.

All proceeds from RunTough will support the ChadTough Foundation, which raises research dollars and awareness for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) and pediatric brain tumors. The event is in honor of Chad Carr, who died from the disease last November at age five. Approximately four percent of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is directed toward pediatric cancer, which makes the Carrs more driven to raise money for the ChadTough Foundation.

Tammi Carr, Chad’s mother, said on her Facebook page Thursday that DIPG Awareness day will be recognized in the state of Michigan for Sept. 26, 2016, to honor Chad’s birthday and all of the children who have been lost to this disease. Carr hopes this helps increase awareness of DIPG and funding for research to find a cure.

This will be the first RunTough without Chad, who died last Nov. 23 after a 14-month battle with the disease. His parents, Tammi and Jason, along with sons, CJ and Tommy will participate in the event. His grandfather, Lloyd Carr, the former Michigan football coach, is expected to attend the event.

There are more than 1,600 participants and $50,000 in donations for this run — last year there were 1,028 runners. For more information, visit chadtough.org/run.