The Connection

Fairfax — Halloween will soon be here, and that means it’s time for the 22nd annual Goblin Gallop. It’s set for Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center.

Many of the runners and walkers, plus those cheering them on, wear Halloween costumes. The festivities include live music, refreshments and a costume contest, so both participants and onlookers have a good time.

But the event has a serious purpose, too. All proceeds go to the John Quadrino Foundation to Benefit Children with Cancer. George Quadrino established it after his son John died of the disease in 1985 at age 7. And each year, money raised from the Goblin Gallop is used for several, small grants to help childhood cancer victims and their families.

“It’s a fun event – a chance for people to get some exercise and enjoy the day with their families,” said George Quadrino, who organizes the Goblin Gallop each year. “They can have an enjoyable morning at the race and then eat popcorn and watch their children play in the moonbounce. And at the same time, they’re doing something good – helping the families of seriously ill children.”

RAIN OR SHINE, the race begins and ends in front of Coastal Flats restaurant. The 1K fun run starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K race and walk at 9 a.m. Entry fees through Oct. 22 are $35 for the 5K run, $27 for the 5K walk and $18 for the 1K fun run. From Oct. 23 on, those fees, respectively, are $38, $30 and $22.

Entrants should add $5 to each amount if they’d like a long-sleeved, rather than a short-sleeved, T-shirt. Register at www.goblingallop.org. Online registration will remain open until midnight, Thursday, Oct. 22.

People may run individually or as part of 5K teams competing against each other. Participants may be on a coed team of at least four people; the categories are organizations, families and friends. The top team in each category will receive fun awards for best team costume, fastest team – adding up the four members’ times, and for the team with the most members registered before packet pickup on Oct. 23.

People may also register during packet pickup at Potomac River Running, 11895 Grand Commons Ave. in Fairfax Corner. Hours are Friday, Oct. 23, from noon-7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. On race day, it’s at the registration table, 7-8:15 a.m.

Fairfax Station’s Dixon Hemphill is the race director. Main sponsors include Don Beyer Volvo, the Shaffer Charitable Foundation and Glory Days Grill.

“We raised about $35,000 last year,” said Quadrino. “That funded a lot of help to over 250 families.” Nearly 1,300 people participated in last year’s Goblin Gallop. Usually, hundreds of people sign up on race day and, said Quadrino, “Computer registration only takes a moment.”

The course is USATF-certified, and prizes valued at $150, $100 and $50 are awarded to the top three, overall, male and female finishers. Prizes are also given to the top three overall finishers in various age categories, including a masters group for those over 40. Every child participating will get a runner’s medal.

All competitors will receive a free, commemorative, glow-in-the-dark T-shirt. Decorated with the words, “Goblin Gallop,” in white, the shirts are orange and black with a scene of a large pumpkin, a witch, ghosts, black cats and trick-or-treating children.

No dogs or headphones are allowed in the 5K events, but strollers are welcome in both the running and walking events. A computer chip in the runners’ numbers will register their starting and finishing times.

The route is challenging, but fairly flat, with few hills and all right turns. Potomac River Running will handle scoring and results, and the awards ceremony will be on the stage in front of Coastal Flats. Results will be posted that afternoon at goblingallop.org and https://potomacriverrunning.com/.

After the race, the band Shaky Ground will perform classic rock on the stage, costumes will be judged and awarded prizes, and participants will enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, breakfast bars, fruit, cookies and beverages.

In addition, more than $3,000 in door prizes will be given away. Most are donated by local merchants and include Redskins tickets, restaurant meals and gift certificates at running stores. Glory Days Grill is the largest prize-contributor, donating $1,000 worth of goodies.

Because of the Goblin Gallop, the John Quadrino Foundation is able to make more than 250 grants per year, totaling about $75,000. The recipient families are referred by pediatric social workers at Inova Fairfax and Children’s hospitals, and the grants are given directly to these families.

Since medical bills can be overwhelming, parents of seriously ill children often need help with rent, utility bills, vehicle insurance or car repairs. Often, one parent must quit a job to stay home and take care of the child. And a family with no prior financial problems suddenly finds itself in dire straits. That’s where the Foundation comes in.

“It’s so important because we meet the needs that other foundations don’t,” said Quadrino. “Last year’s grants included a generator for a family who brought their child home from the hospital, but still on a ventilator. So they needed backup in case the electricity went out. And just last week, we had the lights turned back on for a family in Chantilly.”

He said another family of a sick child was offered a cottage stay at Nags Head, N.C., but had no way to get there or any bathing suits, so the Foundation paid for their transportation and clothing. “We also keep cell phones on for hospitalized children so they can keep in touch with family and friends,” said Quadrino. “And we bought laptops for children who’ll be out of school quite a while. That enabled them to keep up with their studies.”

TO DONATE to the organization, send checks payable to The John Quadrino Foundation to P.O. Box 4614, Falls Church, VA 22044. Contributions are tax-deductible and may also be made via the Combined Federal Campaign by designating CFC No. 59426, or via the United Way by selecting No. 8931.