Cupid’s Undie Run for Charity Returns to D.C. (photos)

Cupid’s Undie Run returned to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 12 after a two-year hiatus as hundreds once again jogged along city streets wearing nothing but their underwear to raise money for charity.

In prior years, partcipants had to brave the aftermath of a snow storm, and single-digit temperatures shielded by only their bare essentials. But on this day the weather was unseasonably mild with temperatures hovering around the 60 degree mark. Before and after the Run through the downtown, participants were able to loosen up inside Penn Social in Penn Quarter, provided they first showed proof of Covid vaccination upon entering. Top finisher Dylan Wadsworth from D.C. completed the “brief” 1.6 mile course in 10:40 minutes. 

Cupid’s Undie Run began as a local event in the District on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2010 and has expanded this year to 33 U.S. cities over several weekends, with additional activities in Australia. 2022 marked the 12th actual running of the annual event. Last year’s Run had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

All of the proceeds of Cupid’s Undie Run support the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s fight against neurofibromatosis, also known as NF, which affects the nervous systems of small children. The genetic disease, which can cause blindness, deafness, learning disabilities and severe chronic pain, affects one in every 3,000 children.  As yet there is no cure, but research funded by CTF led to the first (and only) FDA-approved treatment for one type of NF.

Brendan Hanrahan, Bobby Gill and Chad Leathers came up with the idea for the run, which was first held on Capitol Hill. Leathers’s brother Drew was affected by NF, and the founders wanted to do something to raise money for research on the disorder. They expected about 100 racers that first year, but more than 600 showed up, raising $10,000. In 2012, Cupid’s Charity became a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit; since its inception, over $22 million has been raised.

“Cupid has always been for the Children’s Tumor Foundation but we’ve been our own charity” said Hanrahan, “and this year we actually merged with the Children’s Tumor Foundation so it’s all under one umbrella now. And I think it’s the best of both worlds cause you can see that the life and the spirit of Cupid is exactly like it used to be but now that we’re all under one umbrella it makes the connection even stronger.” 

To learn more about the Children’s Tumor Foundation and donating to the organization click here.

View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos from the 2022 Cupid’s Undie Run in D.C. by clicking on the photo icons below.

tagscharitychildrenChildrens Tomor FoundationCTFCupid's Undie RuncureeventneurofibromatosisNFPenn QuarterracestrippingunderwearundieWashington D.C.