About BIGGSteps Kansas City

This will be the 8th year for the the Kansas City BIGGSteps race — a family-friendly event that attracts both casual and elite runners. While the race is traditionally held on the scenic University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, this year we will be hosting a virtual race in partnership with BIGGSteps Boston.

The 2020 virtual race will be held Oct. 4-18, and the funds raised will continue to support cancer prevention and treatment.

  1. Beginning Aug. 24, register for the virtual race online and pick a side — Team Kansas City or Team Boston.

  2. For a one-time registration fee of $25, participants can run/walk and log as many miles (kilometers) as they can, wherever they can, within the two week race period (Oct. 4-18).

  3. Participants check in regularly to log their miles and to see how far their city is progressing towards the other. (Note: to log miles runners will go to the race registration website click on "Results" and there is a button to "Submit Virtual Results".  There will be an email sent out from Run Sign Up once the race goes live with more detailed information). The first city to reach 2,301 kilometers WINS!

The winning city will be announced by Nate Bukaty on The Border Patrol on SportsRadio 810 on Monday, Oct. 19.

Participants are encouraged to raise additional funds and prizes will be available for the most funds raised. The first 500 registrants will receive a special BIGGSteps Cowtown vs. Beantown running buff presented by Boulevard Brewing Company. Made of Ultraviolet Protective Fabric (UPF), the versatile face and neck covering also blocks a high percentage of the ultraviolet radiation that causes skin damage.

Proceeds help with cancer care during COVID

Event proceeds will be donated to the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the Lank Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham to help defray the increased costs of safe, effective cancer treatment during the COVID pandemic.

“We are thrilled to partner once again and carry out a shared mission to care for our community when they need personalized, compassionate cancer care,” said Dr. Kelly Bodio Downey, Chief of Hematology/Oncology at BID–Needham and Medical Director of the Lank Cancer center. “This year, funds donated to the Lank Cancer Center in Needham will support efforts and equipment to ensure we are treating individuals, many of which are critically immuno-compromised, in a safe environment during such challenging, uncertain times in the COVID pandemic.”

“Before we can take care of our patients, we must first ensure the health of our care staff. Thanks to the support of the Sean D. Biggs Memorial Foundation, we are able to offer COVID-19 testing to our employees, an important measure that allows us to safely care for our uniquely vulnerable patient population,” noted Roy Jensen, MD, Director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Below are interviews that our own Nate Bukaty did with Dr. Jensen and Dr. Bodio Downey over zoom.

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