Special Olympics PA to Host 15th Annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run/Walk

The Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run benefiting Special Olympics Pennsylvania will return to Penn State’s University Park campus for its 15th year on Sunday, April 14, as part of Blue-White weekend festivities.

More than 3,500 runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are expected to participate in either the 5k or the 2-mile family fun walk. Both travel through campus before making their way to the Beaver Stadium tunnel and finishing on the 50-yard line.

Race day registration will open at 7:30 a.m. at Medlar Field. The run begins at 11 a.m. near the Bryce Jordan Center, followed by the walk at approximately 11:10 a.m. The race course closes at noon, and awards are presented at 12:15 p.m. in the stadium.

Spectators can enter the stadium through Gate B at 11 a.m. for 34-yard line seating. Access to the field is for participants only.

Registration for the run and walk is $35 or $20 for students with ID. Children under the age of 9 can participate for free. Participants can also raise funds online for added incentives by creating their own fundraising pages. Online registration is open until the start of the race at www.StadiumRun.org.

The first, second and third place overall finishers will receive Sheetz gift cards valued at $100, $50 and $25, respectively, along with their medals. All participants will receive a Beaver Stadium Run T-shirt, bottled water and other refreshments.

Proceeds from the run/walk will help underwrite the cost of participation for nearly 2,000 athletes at the 2024 SOPA Summer Games, held in June at Penn State. Athletes from throughout the state will gather in State College to compete in eight sports at SOPA’s largest statewide competition.

The Beaver Stadium Run is presented by Sheetz and the Paterno family, along with a host of other sponsors. For the first time this year, Mount Nittany Health was named the 2-mile walk sponsor.

“Special Olympics Pennsylvania is thrilled to partner with Mount Nittany Health for this year’s Beaver Stadium Run/Walk. Working alongside Mount Nittany Health will continue to help us expand healthy activity opportunities across Pennsylvania,” said Pam Velasquez, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Chief People Officer and executive vice president, said in a statement. “We are eager to keep building healthy and inclusive communities together, especially at Penn State this April.”