Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, the First Coast’s locally-based wish granting organization for children battling life-threatening illnesses, has moved their annual Dreams Come True 5K (DCT5K), presented by TOTE Maritime, from 121 Financial Ballpark to a virtual format.

Registered participants will be encouraged to walk, run or roll anytime and anywhere between Sept. 26 and Oct. 18, 2020. During the registration period, which is currently open until Oct. 18, individuals will be provided the opportunity to develop peer-to-peer fundraising pages in the efforts to raise funds to support the organization’s mission.

All registered participants will receive a DCT5K face mask and digital finisher certificate. T-shirts and other incentives are available for those who reach various fundraising goals. Thanks to an anonymous donor, all registration fees, donations, and funds through the DCT5K will be matched up to $100,000.

DCT5K Ambassador Jacob – DCT5K Ambassador and Clay County resident, Jacob Lopez (age 13), is ready for the DCT5K. Jacob suffered numerous life-threatening injuries following an automobile accident in April 2015. Dreams Come True sent Jacob and his family on a Disney Dream trip in 2018.

DCT5K Ambassador Allen – DCT5K Ambassador and Palm Coast Resident, Allen Roberson (age 18), is ready for the DCT5K. Allen is one of more than 60 Dream children whose dream trip has been put on hold due to COVID-19. After being diagnosed with a mixed germ cell tumor in 2018, and undergoing various surgeries and treatments, Allen continues to recovers and continues his love for running.

“Due to COVID-19, many of our community events have been cancelled or postponed, in addition to more than 60 dreams being placed on hold. Our annual DCT5K will be our main source of funding for the fall and we are relying heavily on the community to assist us in reaching our goal of $300,000,” stated Sheri Criswell, Executive Director, Dreams Come True. “Even during these unprecedented times, we continue to focus on providing support to the families we serve and the community we have called home for over 35 years. Through our virtual 5K event, and together with the First Coast community, children’s dreams will come true once again.”

Various community partners, such as TOTE Maritime and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, are planning employee-focused socially-distancing runs as part of their participation in the DCT5K. Individuals or businesses interested in participating in the virtual DCT5K can visit http://make.dreamscometrue.org/2020 for more details.

The DCT5K is one of Dreams Come True’s signature events, providing funding for its programs and services. Even with recent delays in dream fulfillment, Dreams Come True continues to bring support to local children battling life-threatening illnesses through social-distancing activities, such as: lawn parties, meal deliveries, transplant celebrations, and gift cards.

In 2019, Dreams Come True celebrated 35 years of granting dreams to local children battling life-threatening illnesses.  To date, more than 4,000 local children have seen their dreams turned into reality. For additional information about Dreams Come True, please visit www.dreamscometrue.org or call 904.296.3030.