Our 2026 Event Calendar

From hitting the pavement for our 5K race to bidding at our benefit auctions or sharing a meal at a community dinner, there are so many ways to support the Clinic for Special Children this year!

Every Moment Matters

Whether you’re joining us in person or participating in an online fundraiser, every event directly supports our mission: providing accessible, affordable, and compassionate care to children and adults living with rare genetic disorders.

Ready to plan how to support CSC this year?
Click below to view or download our full 2026 Events Calendar!

Registration is open! | 2026 Clinic for Special Children 5k

Join us on May 16, 2026!

Runners, joggers, and walkers – join us for the Clinic for Special Children 5k, a chip-timed, 3.1-mile race along rolling scenic roads through Lancaster County farmland. The course winds past Amish schoolhouses and acres of picturesque farms. Strollers & mobility devices are welcome! The race is presented by Nemours Children’s Health!

New this year: a 1.5-mile family walk option! Register for the family walk by April 21st to be guaranteed a race shirt. While supplies last after April 21st.

The chip-timed 5k race and the family walk start and end at the Leola Produce Auction! After the 5k and family walk end, we will have a kid’s color fun run for children ages 10 & under (fun run is free, but registration is required). All proceeds benefit the Clinic for Special Children. We hope you can join us!

Race Details

LOCATION |Leola Produce Auction (135 Brethren Church Road, Leola, PA 17540). Parking will be on-site at the Leola Produce Auction. Please enter Brethren Church Road from Route 23/East Main Street.

TIMES 7:30 a.m. – race day registration opens for the 5k, family walk, and kid’s color fun run. 8:45 a.m. – race day registration closes for all events. 9:00 a.m. – 5k race & family walk start. 9:45 AM – awards ceremony starts. 10:15 AM – Kid’s color fun run starts.

PACKET PICK-UP |You can pick up your bib and shirt (if applicable) on race day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the Leola Produce Auction (135 Brethren Church Road, Leola, PA 17540).

5K ENTRY FEES
$35 by April 21st, includes t-shirt (entry & payment must be received by April 21).
$40 after April 21st (including race day) t-shirt while supplies last.

*NEW* 1.5-MILE FAMILY WALK ENTRY FEES
$25 13+ years old (includes t-shirt if registered by 4/21, while supplies last after 4/21)
$15 | 4 to 12 years old (includes t-shirt if registered by 4/21, while supplies last after 4/21)
$5 3 years old and under (includes t-shirt if registered by 4/21, while supplies last after 4/21)

KID’S COLOR RUN ENTRY FEES
FREE Kid’s color fun run for ages 10 & under. Kid’s color fun run to start at 10:15 AM (registration still required).

HOW TO REGISTER

  • Online: register here! Click the ‘registration’ tab for more details.
  • Mail: send registration form & payment toClinic for Special Children, Attn: 5k Registration, PO Box 500, Intercourse, PA 17534. If paying via check, make payable to: Clinic for Special Children.
  • In-person on race day: race day registration will be open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 8:45 a.m. at the Leola Produce Auction.

FUNDRAISING TEAMSCreate or join a fundraising team! Visit www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/5k and click ‘Become a Fundraiser’ to learn more. The top fundraising team or individual will receive a special award at the race.

5k AWARDS Prizes will be awarded to the 1st overall male and female finishers in the following categories: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70+.

RESULTS & INFO Results & photos are to be posted on www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k. If you have questions, contact us at queries@clinicforspecialchildren.org, call 717-687-9407, or visit www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k.

Race service reserves the right to cancel the race if conditions are deemed unsafe. If canceled, we will consider your registration fee a donation. No refunds, mailed awards, or t-shirts. Results and photos are to be posted on ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k. Events are subject to change due to severe weather conditions, restrictions, or unforeseen circumstances. Visit www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org/events/5k for updates.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

 

Platinum Sponsors

 

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

 

Reaching New Heights: Our 2025 Annual Report is Here!

Our 2025 Annual Report, themed Reaching New Heights, highlights a year of meaningful progress and bold planning for the future.

Guided by a comprehensive strategic planning process, the Clinic established an ambitious course through 2029 centered on three core pillars: Expanding Accessible Care, Engaging in Impactful Research, and Sharing Knowledge.

This report showcases the impactful work accomplished in 2025, reflects on refreshed mission and values that will anchor the years ahead, and underscores the growing demand for compassionate clinical care, specialized laboratory services, and innovative research.

Above all, it celebrates the partnership of generous supporters who make it possible to provide families with accessible care, diagnostic answers, and hope for new treatments.

 

 

How the Comeaux family found hope at the Clinic

We invite you to consider donating to the Clinic for Special Children and support families, like the Comeaux family.

When the Comeaux family reached out to the Clinic for Special Children for a second opinion for their son, Kado’s rare genetic disorder, they were overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. That changed the very same evening when one of the Clinic doctors visited them to deliver a message they hadn’t heard before: Kado could live a full life. Through dedicated research and compassionate care, we have become global experts in Kado’s condition and could offer hope.

You can read their story, a letter from our Executive Director, and donate to the Clinic. Your gift ensures families like the Comeauxs continue to receive affordable, compassionate, and cutting-edge care.


Give today!

Or you can mail your gift of cash or a check (made to Clinic for Special Children) to:

Clinic for Special Children
PO Box 500
Intercourse, PA 17534

CSC publishes new research on metformin therapy for weight loss in adults with maple syrup urine disease

A new study, led by clinicians and researchers at the Clinic, has been published in this month’s issue of Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. Managing weight with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is a delicate balancing act, as traditional dieting can often trigger a dangerous metabolic crisis.

This landmark 52-week study followed nine adults with MSUD to see if metformin, a common diabetes medication, could help them slim down safely. The results were encouraging: participants lost an average of 2.8% of their body weight without causing their leucine levels to spike. Most people tolerated the medication well, and many felt more empowered in managing their health—some even felt confident enough to try new foods. By proving that weight loss is possible without risking a medical emergency, this study paves the way for future research into even more effective treatments like GLP-1s.

To learn more, visit the journal’s website HERE.

Our 2026-2029 Strategic Plan

The Vision for 2026 & Beyond

Throughout 2025, we worked diligently on a comprehensive strategic planning process to set an ambitious course for the Clinic through 2029.

Our vision is built on three essential pillars:

  • Expanding Accessible Care
  • Engaging in Impactful Research
  • Sharing Knowledge

We are excited to share the details of this plan and outline how these strategic goals will guide our journey toward 2029 and beyond.

As we strive for new heights in accessibility, innovation, and education, it is your partnership that makes this work possible.