Name: Cleft Palate Gallop 5K and Fun Walk
Start: 2026-09-27
End: 2026-09-27
Location: Chapel Hill

About the Event

The 17th annual Cleft Palate Gallop 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, 2026 at 7:30 AM. All profits benefit the UNC Craniofacial Center. Thanks so much for your participation!

WHERE: The race start location is the Old Well on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. An approximate address is: 180 E. Cameron Ave., Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

DISTANCES: 5K Run and 1.2 Mile Family Fun Walk

Dental students at the Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will host the 17th Annual Cleft Palate Gallop on Sunday, September 27th, 2026.

Magical Moments, a student-led organization, was founded for the purpose of providing support for patients of the Craniofacial Center. All proceeds raised will go directly to the UNC Craniofacial Center to ensure access to comprehensive, specialized treatment for pediatric patients affected by craniofacial conditions.

You can register for the 5K, Family Fun Walk, or make additional donations by going to carolinacleftpalategallop.com.

Both the 5K and the Fun Walk cost $25; register early to ensure you get your guaranteed shirt size. In-person registration is available on race day beginning at 7:00 a.m., and will cost an additional five dollars.

Running in the race will impact your life for a day, but will change the life of a child forever!

PACKET PICKUP: Fleet Feet Carrboro to grab you T-Shirt and Bib on Friday, September 25th, 4 - 6:15 PM.

Fleet Feet is a proud supporter of local races and seeks to build our running community through events like The Cleft Palate Gallop. Unfamiliar with Fleet Feet? What makes us unique is our people and process - our 3D foot scanning technology, fit id, measures the unique shape of your feet to make sure you're outfitted in the right gear, and we carry shoes from industry-leading running brands like Brooks, New Balance, Nike and HOKA ONE ONE. Training programs through Fleet Feet Running Club give you access to expert running advice for any distance or surface and a community dedicated to the same thing you are. Participants of the race will receive 10% off of their in-store purchases the weekend of the event (Carrboro Location only).

AWARDS: Awards will be given to the overall first, second, and third place male and female runners as well as the top male and female runners in each age group: 15 and under, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.carolinacleftpalategallop.com

Races Offered

5K Run

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:30

sell

$25.00

Fun Walk

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 1.9K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:30

sell

$25.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Chapel Hill.

thermostat Temperature

17.4° / 26.9°

wb_sunny Feels like

17.6° / 27.4°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

9h 17m

water_drop Avg rainfall

5.2 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

8.8 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (5.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

76.0%

wb_twilight Sunrise

06:59

nightlight Sunset

19:22

About Chapel Hill

Learn more about the host city, Chapel Hill.

Scenic and regularly decked out in "Carolina blue", Chapel Hill is a lovely college town in North Carolina that makes up the westernmost point of the Research Triangle. The town is the smallest of the Triangle's three cities, with an influence and pull that belies its size. Based around the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the town caters heavily to the local student population, with plenty of bars and restaurants near the university's beautiful campus. Immediately to the west of Chapel Hill is the adjacent town of Carrboro, an old mill town now known for its local shops, restaurants and nightlife.