SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA TO HOST 16TH ANNUAL PATERNO FAMILY BEAVER STADIUM RUN/WALK AT PENN STATE
Join Us for the Scenic 5K or 2-Mile Family Fun Walk Sponsored by Mount Nittany Health
Ready, set, run with Special Olympics Pennsylvania! More than 3,500 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the 16th annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run, presented by Sheetz. The run will take place at Penn State’s University Park campus, on Sunday, April 27th at 11 a.m. – keeping the thrilling events moving during Blue-White Weekend.
REGISTER FOR THE RUN/WALK HERE!
Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities will have the chance to participate in a 5K run or the Mount Nittany Health 2-mile Family Fun Walk. The Run will take place throughout Penn State’s campus all the way through the Beaver Stadium tunnel, finishing on the 50-yard line of the Nittany Lions’ home turf.
For the second year in a row, Mount Nittany Health is named the 2-mile Family-Fun Walk sponsor. Walking and running offers an incredibly accessible way for individuals to get and stay healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Annually, approximately 1,750 individuals with ID participate and compete in SOPA’s long distance running/walking teams and clubs across Pennsylvania.
Run/Walk fees are as follows: registration is free, but a commitment to raise at least $35 is required; a pay rate of $35 upfront; and children under the age of 9 are free. The first, second and third place overall finishers will receive Sheetz gift cards valued at $100 (1st Place), $50 (2nd Place) and 25 (3rd Place) along with their respective medals.
Additionally, all participants will receive an official Beaver Stadium Run T-shirt, bottled water and other refreshments. Participants can also raise funds online for added incentives by creating their own fundraising page to garner support from their friends, family and co-workers. Online registration for the Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run never closes! All participants will be able to register online until the start of the race by visiting www.StadiumRun.org. Members of the public can also sponsor a participant or make a general donation.
Race day registration opens at 7:30 a.m. at Medlar Field (701 Porter Rd, University Park, PA); and the run will begin at approximately 11 a.m. in the vicinity of the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtin Road, move through Penn State’s scenic campus. Access to the field is for participants only. Spectators can enter the stadium through Gate B at 11 a.m. for available 34-yard line seating.
Proceeds from the run will help underwrite the cost of participation for nearly 2,000 athletes at the 2025 SOPA Summer Games held at Penn State University in June. Athletes from all corners of the state will gather in State College to compete in six sports at SOPA’s largest statewide competition. In addition to competition, athletes will also have access to life-changing health screenings during the event.
In addition to the Sheetz and the Paterno families, the 2025 Beaver Stadium Run major event sponsors include: PSECU, Alumni Sponsor; Mt. Nittany Health, Family Fun Walk Sponsor; Starfish Fund; Pam Health; Dan & Debby McGinn; The Lubrano Companies; The Poole Foundation; The Tombros Foundation; iHeartMedia, Dallas & Diane Krapf; Bill Oldsey & Julie Alexander; Dan Hawbaker & Sons; The Meder Family; LAMAR Advertising; Irwin Financial Inc; Happy Valley Adventure Bureau; Richard & Susan Sokolov; Harmelin Media; 6 ABC; Penn State Alumni Association; and Keystone Real Estate & Apartment Store.
Visit www.StadiumRun.org for more information. To learn more about volunteerism and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Pam Velasquez at
