What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend than to run around downtown Detroit in your underwear for a good cause?
, hosted by the , is returning to Detroit on Feb. 17 to raise funds for research on (NF), a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, sometimes leading to blindness, hearing loss, and cancer.
It affects about 4 million people around the world, and there is currently no cure.
Since the first Cupid’s Undie Race in 2010, the Children’s Tumor Foundation has raised $23.7 million for this cause. In 2013, Detroit joined its current roster of 31 participating cities, which include places like Chicago and Nashville, holding the event each year since. This year, Detroit’s fundraising goal is $45,000.
“This charity really does help out, and we really put a lot of money towards finding a cure,” says Brad Porter, Detroit’s Cupid’s Undie Run event director. “… Some of our research that we’ve helped fund has created advanced medical strides in the last few years with some drugs that are going to clinical trial that are lessening, or at least reducing a little bit, the tumors in these patients, which is just amazing. So, I think that we’re very close on getting the FDA approval on that.”
Although tens of thousands of people participate across the country, the number of participating runners in Detroit has dwindled over the years, from 2,000 in 2016 to now only a little over 100 people currently signed up for this year’s event.
“It’d be nice to get back to those numbers,” Porter says. “We can do more for the cause the more people we have.”
Those wishing to grab their favorite set of underwear and go for a run will meet other participants at Tin Roof, located at ., to run a half mile around Comerica Park. The event is from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the run beginning at 2 p.m.
To register or donate, you can visit — and be sure to visit hourdetroit.com for details on even more things to do in metro Detroit.
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