Frequently Asked Questions

What is I  CHOP?
The I CHOP Run, Walk & Virtual Challenge, presented by Philadelphia Insurance Companies, includes two distinct events ensuring there’s a way for everyone to participate.

The I CHOP 5k Run & 3K Family Fun Walk will take place on April 26, 2026, set against the scenic backdrop of FDR Park.

The I CHOP Virtual Challenge takes place May 1-31, 2026, and encourages folks to get active wherever they are, doing whatever they like!

And best of all: You can do both! Sign up to honor CHOP’s legacy, mobilize our community, raise funds to support CHOP’s mission and create a brighter future for children!

How can I participate?
You choose how to join I CHOP:

• Join us in-person for our 5K run and Family Fun Walk on Sunday, April 26, 2026
• Join our Virtual Challenge and get active during May 2026
• Or both!

No matter how you choose to get active to support CHOP, you’ll also raise crucial funds to fuel breakthrough care, treatment and research for our patients.

Is this the same thing as the 31-day Challenge?
YES! We encourage you, your team and friends to join us at I CHOP. Join our 5K and 3K Family Fun Day on April 26, 2026, take part in our Virtual Challenge from May 1 to 31, or both! And just like the 31-day Challenge, you can designate your fundraising dollars to support any area of CHOP you choose. Note: There is a $1,000 required fundraising minimum to designate funds.

How does it work?

• Register: Start your team or join a team by visiting the I CHOP registration page.
• Get set: Once you’ve signed up, you can personalize your fundraising page. Participants with custom pages raise twice as much as those with the standard text!
• Recruit your squad: Gather your friends, family, neighbors – anyone that you want to support your efforts.
• Raise money: Funds raised through I CHOP will benefit the areas of greatest need at the hospital or – if your team raises $1,000 or more – can be directed to an area or program at CHOP that you choose. Fundraising is open until May 31, 2026.
• Celebrate: Join us on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at FDR Park or join our virtual challenge in May to celebrate you, your team and the CHOP patients we fight for every day!

What steps has I CHOP made to ensure the event is accessible and inclusive?

• Created a non-binary category for all races at the non-elite level
• Implemented equally distributed prize and awards at the non-elite level for all races
• All-gender restrooms
• Accessible course and event space
• Staff has gone through sensitivity training to ensure that spaces remain safe for all participants

Where does the in-person event take place?
Runners and walkers will meet at FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Ave. and S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA, to begin the 5K Run and 3K Family Fun Walk.

What time is the in-person event?

• 7 a.m. – Registration opens
• 8 a.m. – Program begins
• 8:30 a.m. – 5K Run begins, followed by 3K Family Fun Walk
• 10 a.m. – Event concludes

When should I arrive?
We suggest arriving no later than 7:30 a.m. to ensure your team is ready to start at the beginning of the run/walk.

Is there a rain date?
No, the event is rain or shine, so we encourage everyone to dress for the weather.

What is a team tent?
A team tent is a centrally located meeting area for your team. The tent will have a banner with your team’s name on it. We also deliver event shirts and race bibs right to the tent, which allows all pre-registered team members to avoid any lines on race day. The deadline to earn a team tent is Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

How can my team get a tent?
Teams that recruit 100+ team members or raise $10,000 will be provided with a tent on the day of the event. The deadline to achieve a team tent is Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Will there be photographers there to take team photos?
Yes! Photographers will roam throughout the event space and will be happy to take team photos.

Can I run and/or walk?
The 3K Family Fun Walk starts immediately after the last person crosses the starting line for the 5K Run, so depending upon how fast you run, there is a possibility that you could finish the run and catch back up with the walk.

Can I run with my child?
Yes, the adult and kids 5K starts at the same time and follows the same course.

Are strollers allowed at the event/walk?
Yes, strollers are permitted on the course and at the event.

Are we allowed to bring dogs?
Dogs are permitted at FDR Park but must be leashed and always supervised.

What are the race age groups?
The age groups are broken down into the following brackets: 19 and younger, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and older.

What are the race prizes?
Medals will be awarded to the 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place male/female/gender non-binary winners of each age group.

What should I wear?
We encourage all participants to wear comfortable, active clothing and shoes. Don’t be afraid to show your spirit — team shirts, signs, noise makers, etc. Many teams create their own shirts for event day, so get creative! t-shirt fundraising through Bonfire will be available soon!

Will there be food and drink at the event?
Yes, there will be complimentary drinks and snacks for all registered participants at the event.

May I bring my own food and beverage to the event?
Yes, outside food and beverages are permitted.

How does the virtual challenge work?
The I CHOP Virtual Challenge is a virtual event that encourages you to get active during May. You challenge yourself to 31 days of fitness activities – run, walk, bike, swim or other – that fit your schedule and your skill level. You choose your mileage goal, raise funds and get active!

Virtual challenge registration will be open through May.

What is the cost of registration?

When does online registration end?
Preregistration for the in-person event ends at noon on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Can I register on the day of the event?
Yes! On-site registration begins at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Is there a limit to how many people can be on my team?
The more the merrier! The more teammates you recruit, the more dollars you can raise to support CHOP!

When and where is the I  CHOP packet pickup?
Packets for runners (walkers do not get packets, which include race bibs) can be picked up on Friday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the CHOP Roberts Center (734 Schuylkill Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19146) and on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CHOP’s King of Prussia Campus (550 S. Goddard Blvd., King of Prussia, PA 19406). Team captains must let the I CHOP team know in advance that they are picking up their team packets.

I do not remember my password and I am unable to reset it. What should I do?
Contact iheart@chop.edu and provide your name as well as indicate your problem. We will manually reset and provide you with a new password within 48 hours or less.

Who does I  CHOP benefit?
Your gift to I CHOP provides unconditional support for CHOP’s most crucial needs. Imagine the possibilities if hope and healing were accelerated by unlimited resources, if the next life-saving discovery could be made more quickly, or if a community program could provide necessities to a family immediately – without worrying about cost. Those are just a few examples of how unrestricted giving can help our patients and families, empower CHOP to respond quickly to our most pressing needs and make the greatest impact.

Teams that raise $1,000 or more can designate their funds to a particular department or program at CHOP that has meaning to them or can decide to support our most pressing needs in patient and family care, research, community relations, and training and education.

Learn how your support makes a difference.

Can I choose where my fundraising dollars go?
Teams that raise more than $1,000 can designate if they want their team’s fundraising dollars to support a specific program or CHOP’s greatest need. Individual participants who are not part of a team and raise more than $1,000 may also designate their donations to a program of their choosing. Fundraise for areas like Neurology, Child Life, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research.

I don’t see my program listed in the drop down menu, can I write in the area I care most about?
Of course, you can write in the area you care most about. If your selection does not have an existing fund, we’ll work with our clinical partners to find the closest fit.

Do I need to fundraise on top of my registration fee?
Fundraising is encouraged for every team participating in this event. Teams that raise $1,000 or more can designate where their dollars to benefit a specific area of the hospital or be used for the greatest need at CHOP.

How much of my donation will go directly to help kids at CHOP?
100% of every dollar raised as part of I CHOP Run, Walk & Virtual Challenge funds breakthroughs in patient care and research for children at CHOP and around the world.

What are the responsibilities of the team captain?
Team captains customize their team page, recruit team members, motivate them to fundraise and share event details with the team. Team captains will also decide where their fundraising dollars are spent if the fundraising minimum is met. Some team captains go above and beyond and create team T-shirts or organize a team fundraising event!

Can I create a Facebook fundraiser that will show up on my team page?
Yes! We encourage our participants to start Facebook fundraising through your Participant Center. Log in to your event fundraising portal and select “Create a Facebook Fundraiser” to get started! Check out our Facebook Fundraising guide.

What should we do with cash donations made to our team?
All cash donations should be converted to check or money order. You can fill out our offline donation form, which includes instructions on who the check should be made out to and where it should be sent.

I donated to a participant/team, but it’s not showing up on their page. What can I do?
Sometimes donations are mistakenly made to the general event. Contact iheart@chop.edu and provide your name and who your donation was intended to be credited to. We will manually move your donation to the correct location within 48 hours.

What can I do if I – or someone I know – incorrectly donated to the event and meant to donate to my team or page?
Email iheart@chop.edu and provide us with the donor’s name and the correct page that the donation should be credited to. The donation will be corrected within 48 hours.

Are there opportunities to get my company involved?
Yes! If you work for a company that might be interested in being a sponsor, please visit our corporate opportunities page. Custom opportunities and packages are available. We also welcome any company that would like to form a corporate team and participate.

How do I know if my company has a matching gift program?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. Find out if your company has a matching gift policy.

Who can I contact if I have any questions?
Please contact us at iheart@chop.edu with any questions.

Can I volunteer at the event?
Please email iheart@chop.edu for volunteer information!