Runway Rally 2025 was hosted by BuckeyeThon to introduce attendees to Champion Kids and educate them on BuckeyeThon’s mission. Credit: Courtsey of Prathisha Krishna
BuckeyeThon will celebrate 25 years of fundraising for pediatric cancer and blood disorders Wednesday at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, located at 700 Children’s Dr., with its annual Runway Rally, an event that introduces new team members to BuckeyeThon’s Champion Kids and its mission.
Prathisha Krishna, director of events for BuckeyeThon, said doors open for Runway Rally at 6:30 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m. Aayush Vishwanath, vice president of programming for BuckeyeThon, said Runway Rally is a major kickoff event for newly recruited team members.?
“Team members come to Runway Rally for a chance to meet all of our Champion Kids and to really learn more about BuckeyeThon’s cause,” Vishwanath said.
Krishna said Runway Rally introduces Champion Kids — the children BuckeyeThon fundraises for. At the event, BuckeyeThon shares their stories to motivate team members to fundraise for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and learn how the organization has impacted their lives.?
“The major takeaway for Runway Rally for all of our team members is that they leave knowing how to fundraise for BuckeyeThon, how to engage with this cause and they learn more about this cause itself,” Vishwanath said.
Vishwanath said there are 16 Champion Kids this year, and the event gives attendees the opportunity to meet them.?
To recognize 25 years of fundraising, Runway Rally will also highlight BuckeyeThon’s total impact on the hospital, Vishwanath said.
“BuckeyeThon has raised over $16 million for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the past 25 years,” Vishwanath said. “It’s hard for a lot of us to fathom that, like the work that we do these past four years or these three years that we’re in this organization has led to such a big impact, and so we’re trying to spotlight that in a way.”
Team members and Champion families at last year’s Runway Rally hosted by BuckeyeThon. Credit: Courtesy Prathisha Krishna
Krishna said another important goal of Runway Rally is to educate team members on how to use the BuckeyeThon systems.?
“We have a system called Donor Drive, that’s where they fundraise,” Krishna said. “We teach them how to use that system, as well as, also, teaching them how to fundraise, how to make those asks, how to reach out to their friends and family and be like, ‘Hey, can I have $10 for the kids?’ or how to make that ask. Those are our main goals through this event,” Krishna said.
Runway Rally also gives Champion Kids the opportunity to express themselves through fashion. The clothing comes from Abercrombie & Fitch, Vishwanath said, where Champion Kids get to shop for clothes they like to represent their personal style on the runway.
“That excitement, it really is contagious, and it’s something that a lot of the college students really pick up on, and they can even relate to, especially because it’s the same kind of fashion that we’re kind of used to,” Vishwanath said. “I think fashion in general, a lot of people relate to it, and the kids really have a fun time with it.”
When the children are able to pick out their own clothing, Krishna said it shows their personalities.
“Some of them are a little shyer, some of them are more outgoing, and you can really see that through their outfits,” Krishna said. “I feel like fashion is a really great storytelling tool, so that is definitely a way that they can show their story on stage.”
Vishwanath said BuckeyeThon is also always looking for new ways to make events more exciting and keep them relevant to what campus culture and campus trends look like. It might not be a fashion show in the future, but it’s still going to be something that introduces everybody to these kids and gives them the opportunity to share their stories, he said.?
Krishna said she hopes attendees leave Runway Rally with a great connection to BuckeyeThon’s cause, and that hearing a Champion Kid family speak about their experience can help attendees connect with the organization.?
“I feel like the emotion behind what they say and all those aspects really can bring people closer to our cause, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway is I hope they at least get to know one kid and get to meet them [and] get to actually interact with them,” Krishna said.
Another important factor of this year’s event is the proximity of this cause, Vishwanath said. He said many students might not have an immediate relation to pediatric cancer or blood disorders, so they might not realize how common they are and how they surround us.
Within this, BuckeyeThon will spotlight a student perspective from someone who has and is battling pediatric cancer, Vishwanath said.?
Neil Hariths, president of BuckeyeThon, said Runway Rally is BuckeyeThon’s kickoff event of the year.?
“At Runway Rally, newly registered team members will have the chance to learn more about BuckeyeThon, how to get their fundraising journeys started, learn about our Champion Kids, see some awesome performances and eat some great food,” Hariths stated in an email.
Hariths said he hopes students will come away with a stronger understanding of why BuckeyeThon is important.
“For students who may not be familiar with BuckeyeThon, it’s an opportunity to develop a more personal connection to our mission, better understand the experiences of the children and families we support and recognize the meaningful impact they can make through their involvement,” Hariths stated.
Hariths said Champion Kids are central to BuckeyeThon’s mission and help attendees understand the impact of the organization’s fundraising.?
“It’s a reminder that, at the end of the day, these are just kids who want to have fun and make memories like anyone else,” Hariths said. “I think seeing that firsthand helps students connect with our mission in a much more personal way and better understand why the work we do through BuckeyeThon is so meaningful.”
Krishna said Runway Rally will introduce a fundraising competition this year, in which every $5 donation adds a bead to a table’s jar. Each jar is then weighed or counted for the chance for its table to win an incentive.
As part of Runway Rally, attendees will also participate in “Push 15,” a 15-minute fundraising period during which students reach out to friends and family for donations, Krishna said.
“Everyone goes on their phone, texts the people that they know, really asking them … ‘Can you fundraise this much,’ or maybe even sharing a Champion Kid story that they were introduced to earlier at the event, and then using that as a hook to maybe get a donation,” Krishna said.?
Last year, BuckeyeThon held this activity for 10 minutes and raised more than $7,000, Vishwanath said.
Hariths said there are multiple opportunities for students to contribute to BuckeyeThon’s mission, including registering for a Dance Marathon, joining a team, or fundraising.
“More importantly, I think Runway Rally gives students a reason to want to get even more involved, Hariths said. “By meeting our Champion Kids, hearing their stories, and seeing the community built around this cause, students can better understand what makes BuckeyeThon so special and hopefully leave excited to become involved in it themselves.”
As an Ohio State student, Hariths said he has the unique privilege of being able to contribute to a cause that directly impacts the lives of children and families, not just at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, but around the world.?
“I think it’s easy to get caught up in the events, fundraising goals, and numbers, but at the heart of everything we do are the kids and families we support,” Hariths said.
