The 2020 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk on April 5 Is Cancelled

March 13, 2020

Dear 2020 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Race Participants:

Each year for the last 47 years, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk has served as "The Runner's Rite of Spring" in the Nation's Capital. It is our mission and passion. When COVID-19 started creeping into town, the Organizing Committee tried everything we could to keep the tradition alive.

Under the current conditions, that is no longer possible. The 2020 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk on April 5 is cancelled. The Cherry Blossom Kids' Run on April 4 is also cancelled.

The Race Organizing Committee prides itself on treating our participants fairly. That tradition will continue with straightforward arrangements we hope will earn the respect of all of you who entered the race this year.

We are offering all of our entrants three options:

Option 1: Guarantee yourself a spot at the 2021 race! You pay the 2021 entry fee, but you get to skip the lottery. Your 2020 entry fee is not refunded.

Option 2: Get a refund of your entry fee. Although we are a non-profit and we have incurred significant expenses for the event already, we will offer you a full refund of the entry fees ($48 for the 10 mile and $38 for the 5K Run-Walk.) This refund will be applied to your credit card. If you wish to run the 2021 race, you will need to enter the lottery and pay the 2021 entry fee.

Option 3: Donate your entry fee to charity. You may request your full refund to be donated to our official race charity, The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, where it will support pioneering research and world class medical treatment at 170 CMN Hospitals across the country. If you wish to run the 2021 race, you will need to enter the lottery and pay the 2021 entry fee.

Note: Next year's race will be held on April 11, 2021.

You will be sent an email over the next few days that will contain a link to select one of the three options above.

Individuals will have until April 15th at 11:59pm to select one of these options. If you have any questions regarding this process, please send an email to info@cherryblossom.org.

Bibs Transferred to Others: Recipients of transferred bibs who select Option 2, the refund option, will have their entire entry fee ($48 for the 10 Mile or $38 for the 5K) refunded by check. Payment by check is necessary because we cannot process a credit card refund for more than the amount charged by us on the credit card, which was $15 for the transfer fee. Those who select Option 3, the donation to Children's Miracle Network option, will have their entry fee donated to Chldren's Miracle Network by the race.



We will notify you within the next few weeks about pick-up or shipping of your cotton or ASICS upgrade t-shirts and medals (if ordered). Packet mail out fees (the entire $65) will be refunded.

Note: If you previously filled out the form to defer your entry to next year, we are going to delete those responses, as you may prefer to select one of the new options. Therefore be sure to fill out the new form when you receive the link, even if you still wish to defer and get a guaranteed entry for 2021.

Finally, we are especially grateful to our volunteers. During the past few weeks of uncertainty, our volunteers continued to sign up for volunteer shifts (even today!) - leading us to the highest volunteer registration we have seen this far in advance of the race. We send a big thank you to our volunteers.

We offer our sincere hope for a healthy spring and look forward to having you at the starting line next year.

Phil Stewart

Event Director