Dash N' Smash: Virtual Run/Walk for Gastroparesis

The Dash N’ Smash is a virtual run/walk hosted by the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge. The purpose of this event is to inspire hope, raise awareness, and fundraise for those battling Gastroparesis. Participants are invited to run or walk at their own convenience, choosing when, where, and how far they want to go. After completing their distance, participants are encouraged to take on the #GPPieFaceChallenge as a fun way to “cool down.” There is no registration fee to participate. However, we kindly ask that you consider making a donation to G-PACT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports individuals living with Gastroparesis and other digestive tract paralysis conditions. Participants are encouraged to donate based on their distance goal (for example, $10 per mile). What is Gastroparesis? Gastroparesis is a digestive motility disorder that causes the stomach muscles to function improperly, leaving individuals unable to properly eat, digest, or absorb nutrients. Despite affecting millions of people worldwide, there is currently no known cure, and public awareness of the condition remains limited. To help change that, the Gastroparesis Pie Face Challenge was created in 2016. As part of the awareness campaign, participants smash a whipped cream pie in their face, challenge three others to do the same, and donate $1 to G-PACT, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those living with Gastroparesis. Since its creation, pies have been thrown across the globe by professional athletes, celebrities, media personalities, and GP Warriors—all helping spread awareness of this often-overlooked disease. To continue the mission of the GP Pie Face Challenge, the campaign traditionally hosts a fundraising event leading up to National Gastroparesis Awareness Month in August. Last year’s Dash N’ Smash brought together more than 60 participants, who collectively raised over $2,500. This year, we hope to double that impact! Although we may not be together physically, people across