Frozen Feet 5K to raise funds for local families battling pediatric cancer

A family friendly 5K walk and run to benefit families with children fighting cancer will take place Feb. 21 at Episcopal High School in Alexandria.

The Frozen Feet 5K, organized by the nonprofit JUST TRYAN IT, will begin at 9 a.m. with packet pickup starting at 8 a.m. The event supports the organization’s mission of easing the financial burden of pediatric cancer treatment for families in the greater Washington, D.C., area.

“A cancer diagnosis involves significant financial burdens, often requiring that parents leave their job, leading some families unable to pay their bills,” Andrea Duvall, an Alexandria resident who serves on the JUST TRYAN IT board, said in an email to The Alexandria Brief. “That increases stress on families at their toughest time and can also impact care.”

JUST TRYAN IT was founded more than 15 years ago by a Bethesda mother whose son Ryan — the namesake behind the organization — was fighting cancer. The nonprofit provides grants to local families with a child battling cancer to help pay mortgages, rent, utilities and other basic necessities so parents can focus on their child’s treatment.

Last year’s Frozen Feet event raised roughly $17,000. Organizers hope to grow that figure in 2026 by reaching more of the Alexandria community.

The need is significant. According to the organization’s 2024 impact report, 75% of patient families served have a household income of $59,000 or less, and 42% reported concerns about how to pay their rent or mortgage. Nearly half of families needed help covering transportation costs, and 46% of patients are under the age of 10.