Dozens of people dressed in red underwear, tutus, long socks and Cupid’s wings took to downtown Detroit streets on Valentine’s Day to raise awareness and funds for neurofibromatosis, or NF, a rare genetic condition.
Participants in Detroit’s 12th annual Cupid’s Undie Run on Saturday, Feb. 14, met at Tin Roof Detroit for a party before the run. Police blocked off the streets surrounding Comerica Park where participants in various stages of undress ran less than a mile around the baseball stadium in unseasonable warm 46-degree weather before returning to Tin Roof.
As of Saturday afternoon, the group had raised more than $40,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, according to the event registration page. The event goal is to raise $45,000.
Runners finish the last leg around Comerica Park in the Cupid's Undie Run on Saturday, Feb, 14, in downtown Detroit. Dozens of participants in various stages of undress gathered at the Tin Roof bar before taking a lap around Comerica Park to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation.
Runners finish the last leg around Comerica Park in the Cupid’s Undie Run on Saturday, Feb, 14, in downtown Detroit. Dozens of participants in various stages of undress gathered at the Tin Roof bar before taking a lap around Comerica Park to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
Cupid’s Undie Run is a national initiative of underwear races to support NF research.
NF refers to a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, according to the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The disease affects people differently and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, debilitating pain, cancer and more.
Detroit Race Director Brad Porter said the race, besides raising money, helps get raise awareness about the disease that affects up to 1 out of every 2,500 children worldwide.
«Everybody knows that sex sells, so when you see a bunch of crazy people out in February in their underwear running, generally people want to ask why,» Porter said. «And it’s a good opening to let people know about our charity and what we stand for and how they can help.»