Give Kids The World Gingerbread Run 5K is an annual event that celebrates the joys of childhood and inspires hope for families who need it most. It is a professionally timed race that can be walked, run or strolled. The race winds through the 70-acre whimsical Give Kids The World Village, past snoring trees, magic castles and the world’s largest CANDYLAND game.

Letter from a wish mom

My daughter, Dakotah, was a previous Wish recipient and we stayed at GKTW in 2011. I knew immediately that I was going to do this 5k. I also immediately decided that this would be the first 5k that my daughter would do with me. She is completely dependent on me for her care and totally non-ambulatory. I found a special needs jogger and prayed it would get here on time. It did - 11/2 - just in the nick of time. Well, she was too tall for it so I just said, "Well, looks like we'll be using her regular wheelchair and hope for the best." Everyone there was so sweet to us and she got to meet all the characters. Race time - lined up in the Start area. I'll admit I was a little nervous of how stable the chair would be since we'd never done this together before. Well, the chair did great, she did great, and we actually finished in 54 min. I couldn't believe it - I pushed 100 lbs of weight and still finished under an hour. I also think she enjoyed it event though she's non-verbal and can't tell me. Those cheering us on at the finish line really touched me - I was in tears. My Dakotah wasn't even supposed to live past 2 years old and I still don't know her life expectancy, but I will have this picture of us crossing the finish line of a 5k FOREVER!!!! Thank you GKTW!!!!

Jennifer Hughes Daughter - Dakotah Hughes