Riley Turner was born February 21, 2008, and from birth, she has been a very medically complex child. She has an undiagnosed neuromuscular disease which necessitates a tracheostomy tube requiring 24-hour attention and a gastrostomy-jejunostomy tube for feeding and medicine. Group insurance benefits for medical equipment and nursing care services have been exhausted and government programs are not available.

To help cover her ongoing medical expenses, Riley’s extended family is sponsoring a Walk/Run for Riley—a 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk—to raise money for The Riley E. Turner Special Needs Trust Fund.

Saturday, October 10th at 8:00 am
St. Johns Town Center
The walk/run will start and finish in the center of the main street
with the course winding through the avenues of shops and stores.

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Walk/Run for Riley is actually a “race within a race”—an event within a larger event:

  • HandsOn Jacksonville and The RITA Foundation have organized a 5K Run/1 Mile Walk event—“The Human Race”—that allows participants to designate their sponsor donations for specific causes.
  • All sponsor donations raised by participants who are “running for Riley” are passed through the RITA Foundation and contributed 100% to The Riley Turner Special Needs Trust Fund.
  • 1st Place Sports handles registration and manages the event.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

  1. SIGN UP for the 5k Run or the 1-mile Fun Run/Walk.
    • Complete the entry form and mail it in with your entry fee or you can register online at www.1stplacesports.com/human.html. (Entry fee only covers the cost of the race). Note: If you are not a runner, consider the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk—starts at 9 AM, only costs $12, and you still get the Run t-shirt.
  2. LINE UP donations for Riley’s Trust Fund
    • Ask friends, neighbors, family, fellow employees, your employer, other businesses, church groups, etc., to sponsor you with a tax-deductible donation. Don’t forget to write a check yourself. You can use the enclosed sponsor form to record donations.
    • All donation checks should be made payable to The RITA FOUNDATION. Donations are run through RITA and passed on in full (100%) to Riley’s Trust Fund.
      Important: On the memo line on all checks, please write “Riley Turner Fund” to ensure proper credit for Riley.
  3. SHOW UP at The St. Johns Town Center, Saturday, October 10th
    • 5K Run starts at 8 AM; 1-mile Walk starts at 9 AM. Please park in the lots behind Maggiano’s or Dick’s Sporting Goods.
    • Before you check in for the run, come to the Team Riley tent (at the square on the corner between Williams-Sonoma and Oceanology), get your “Running for Riley” sticker, and turn in your donations.
      Look for pink balloons and the Riley banner. Volunteers will be wearing badges w/pink lanyards.

If you cannot participate in the race, you can still contribute.

Please make checks payable to The RITA Foundation, and send to RITA, 8334 Amherst Hills Lane, Jacksonville, FL 32256. On the memo line of your check, write “Riley Turner Fund” to ensure proper credit for Riley.

Due to the complex nature of Riley's medical condition and the limited amount of funding she receives, the yearly out of pocket expenses for her medical equipment, nursing care, medications, specialist fees, etc. is around $70,000.00.

Each donation is not only much needed but also greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING RILEY AND HER FAMILY!

Download a printable form to promote the event.