Rowe's Research Runners Annual Event 2026

Rowe’s Research Runners Annual Event is a walk, run, and roll fundraiser in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, with a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. The in-person gathering uses the Pennsylvania Military Museum as its base, and the event supports research into ME/CFS, dysautonomia, long COVID, and related illnesses. This is the ninth annual edition, and registration does not include a T-shirt; shirts and extra merchandise are sold separately. The event originated from Emily Steffensmeier’s birthday fundraiser and her desire to thank Dr. Peter Rowe, the physician who helped her transition from being bedridden toward a fuller life. Rowe’s Research Runners collaborates with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and all money raised goes directly to Dr. Rowe and his colleagues at the Chronic Fatigue and Related Disorders Clinic. The cause is personal and medical: Emily has lived with these conditions for 24 years, and the event focuses on fundraising, awareness, and connection for patients and families managing illnesses that can affect the nervous system, immune function, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, and daily energy.