Community Invited to Run, Walk, Roll and Stroll at Victory Junction’s Run to Victory 5K and Fun Run

Former camper shares why she runs and encourages others to support children living with complex medical and physical needs

RANDLEMAN, N.C. (Aug. 26, 2026) – Victory Junction invites the public to participate in its 21st annual Run to Victory 5K and Fun Run, held onsite at Victory Junction in Randleman, North Carolina, on Saturday, Sept. 12. Proceeds will help fuel life-changing Camp experiences for children living with complex medical and physical needs.

With a goal of raising $125,000, enough to send 50 children to Camp, participants of all ages and abilities are invited to run, walk, roll or stroll while helping ensure Victory Junction experiences remain free for every child and family. Those unable to attend in person can register for the Virtual 5K and participate from anywhere.

Participants can register by visiting VictoryJunction.org/RTV.

For Natalee Mitcham, a former Victory Junction camper, the event is much more than a race. Victory Junction has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

Mitcham first came to Camp as a child living with hypoplastic right heart syndrome and spent 14 years as a camper, growing up alongside other children with chronic illnesses and disabilities who understood many of the experiences she faced.

“From the moment I arrived, it felt like more than just a place – it felt like home,” Mitcham said. “At Victory Junction, accessibility is not an afterthought, it is the norm, and that environment gave me a true sense of belonging and confidence.”

Even after aging out as a camper in 2022, Mitcham’s connection to Victory Junction continued. She returned as a cabin counselor for three years, giving back to the same community that helped shape her. She has also volunteered at Run to Victory since 2014 and supported the Kyle Petty Charity Ride.

“Coming back is not just about nostalgia – it is about making sure the next generation of campers experience the same joy, independence and possibility that I did,” Mitcham said. This year, Mitcham will once again support Run to Victory and is encouraging others to join her in supporting a place that has had such a lasting impact on her life.

“I run and support Victory Junction because I have lived its mission,” Mitcham said. “I have seen firsthand how powerful it is for a child to feel included, capable and free from limitations. This Camp shows kids that their conditions do not define them and gives them opportunities they may never have believed possible.”

For Mitcham, Run to Victory is an opportunity to help make sure more children have the chance to discover that same sense of belonging. “Victory Junction changed my life, and continuing to support it allows me to help create that same impact for others,” she said. “It is more than a camp. It is a place where confidence is built, friendships are formed, and kids are reminded that they truly belong.”

Event Details
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Location: Victory Junction, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27317

Race Schedule
7:30 a.m. – Registration opens
8:30 a.m. – Registration closes
8:30 a.m. – Fun Run starts
9 a.m. – 5K starts
10:15 a.m. – Awards ceremony

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About Victory Junction
Victory Junction is a year-round camp for children living with complex medical and physical conditions. Founded by Kyle Petty and family in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering in a medically safe environment – always free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors and corporate partners. Victory Junction programming is designed to build confidence and foster independence, helping children, families, and caregivers find belonging and build skills that fuel their journeys far beyond Camp. In addition to onsite sessions, Victory Junction’s OUTREACH program delivers Camp experiences to children in hospitals, clinics, and community partner sites throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has provided more than 139,000 experiences to children from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camp Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org.

Online Media Resource Center with photos and B-roll

Media Contact:
Michael Cottingham
Chief Marketing Officer
Victory Junction
Office: 336.495.2070
Email: mcottingham@victoryjunction.org