Steps for a Soldier is a virtual 5K held by the Sotherly Foundation to benefit wounded American veterans and their families.  Registration is open to everyone, regardless of age or location.

A virtual 5K is a race that can be completed at any location at any given pace. Steps for a Soldier participants need only take a minimum of 6,750 steps – the equivalent of a typical 5K for a person of average height – to complete the race.

The steps can be spread out over multiple days, can be done at any pace (walking, jogging, or running), and may be completed using a treadmill or other exercise machine if desired.

That’s OK!  Do as much as you can.  You will be helping veterans regardless of the number of steps you complete, and you will still receive your race bib and medal to commemorate your participation.

Steps for a Soldier benefits the Sotherly Foundation, the 501(c)3 non-profit arm of Sotherly Hotels dedicated to providing significant, life-changing aid to wounded American veterans and their families. 100% of the money raised from Steps for a Soldier will directly benefit veteran families. You can click here to learn more about the mission of the Sotherly Foundation.

Registration for the 2016 Steps for a Soldier Virtual 5K will be open from now until October 31, 2016. The race will begin on Veterans Day 2016 (Friday, November 11) and continue throughout the weekend. Participants will have three days – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (November 11-13) – to accrue the steps necessary to finish the race.

The base entry fee for Steps for a Soldier is $40 per person.  Paid participants will receive a printable digital race bib, a race finisher medal, and one entry into a grand prize drawing for a Sotherly Experience weekend getaway in Savannah, Georgia.

VIP race entry is available for $75 per person.  VIP entrants receive a digital race bib, a race finisher medal, and five entries into the grand prize drawing.

All paid participants will receive a digital race bib and finisher medal.  Participants will also be entered to win a grand prize Sotherly Experience weekend getaway in Savannah, Georgia. Learn more about the grand prize weekend by clicking here.

Raffle entries for the grand prize trip are also available to non-participants for $10 each. Click here to purchase now. There is no limit on the amount of entries per person.

In addition, participants can also earn extra entries for free by sharing their race pictures with us. You can upload your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #StepsForASoldier2016 or email them to [email protected]. Each photo will earn one additional entry, but only photos relevant to the Steps for a Soldier race will be counted.

No, you don’t need to prove that you completed your steps to receive your race medal.  Medals will be mailed to all registered participants in late November.