About The Me Awesome Run: It was January 1st, 2015. We decided, as a family, to start the new year at Hellyer County Park in San Jose. It was one of those perfect California winter mornings - slightly crisp, but sunny and full of promise.

In our family, we had two types of people: The runners: dad and sister, The walkers: Mithil and me. (Our logo of the event is a reflection of that very moment.)

Our dog, Dasher, was bursting with excitement just to be out and about. So we split up, runners went ahead, and Mithil and I stayed back, walking, talking, laughing.

After a while, we all met again. Dad and sister were out of breath. Mithil and I? Completely relaxed. Of course, we made fun of them. It was simple. It was joyful. It was perfect.

 

When Everything Changed: Just a few months later, in August 2015, Mithil was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) - a rare and terminal pediatric brain tumor. Our world came tumbling down. Nothing was ever the same again. After we lost Mithil in November 2016, his words stayed with us: “You have to help kids like me.” Those words became our purpose. They led us to start the Mithil Prasad Foundation, with a mission to support DIPG research and families navigating this devastating diagnosis.

 

Why “Me Awesome”?: Mithil had a way of seeing the world differently. He used to call himself “Me Awesome.” It was even his username. When I told him, “We don’t say things like that,” he smiled and said: “I’m not bragging. That’s how I feel.” That was Mithil - confident, joyful, and quietly wise. So we named this run after how he felt about himself. Because this event isn’t just about running or walking. It’s about reminding every single person here: You are awesome. Just as you are.

 

Why This Park: Hosting this run here brings everything full circle. From a day of simple joy to a day of purpose, community, and impact.

 

What This Run Means: The Me Awesome Run is a community 5K/10K run/walk held on May 17 (DIPG Awareness Day), bringing people together to move, remember, and make a difference. Every step you take helps support families facing DIPG ease financial burdens during treatment and end-of-life care. Cover essentials like housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries.

 

A Message From Us: Thank you for being here. Thank you for showing up. For walking. For running. For caring. And most importantly - for helping keep Mithil’s wish alive: To help kids like him.