Event Features 5k Run/One-Mile Walk & Festival With Live Music, Art to Redefine Disabilities

The 30^th Annual U&I Dash will be held Saturday, March 23^rd at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas featuring a 5K & 1 mile benefiting U&I’s Underdogs -- those with disabilities who have been underestimated and undervalued for far too long.

Early registration is available online at thedash24.com. Race day registration and packet pickup begins at 7:00 am and the race will start promptly at 8:30 am. The 5K fee is $35 for adults 18 & over. The one-mile fee is $25 for adults 18 & over. The fee for 5k or 1 mile is $15 for children 17 & younger. Included in the fee is a custom competition medal, a dry fit-style running shirt, race bib, and for participants 21 years and older, a Mi Cocina Mango Margarita at the finish line. DJ D-Train will be setting the mood to keep the celebration going at the dog-friendly race. 

“We’re redefining disabilities,” said Hugh Breland, CEO of U&I, a 72-year-old nonprofit that empowers individuals with disabilities. “Many of the clients we serve have been designated as unemployable and have been told they can’t work. We know they are capable of so much more. Our organization provides employment, housing, transportation and vocational training for veterans, adults and youth with disabilities. This race will help fund programs to assist the most vulnerable across DFW and beyond.” 

The 5K is chip-timed, and age group awards will be presented during the post-race ceremony. Age group categories include: Overall Male and Female; Male Masters; Female Masters; as well as Male & Female First to Third Place in the following age categories: 9 & under; 10 – 19; 20 – 29; 30 – 39; 40 – 49; 50 – 59; 60 – 69; and 70+.

The course will wind through the Dallas Arts District and Uptown neighborhoods.  The post-race ceremony and celebration includes a DJ, face painting, balloon artists, a Mi Cocina food truck, the McDonald’s Midway interactive playground, the Redefining Disabilities art exhibit, and the U&I Underdog Wall presented by Michaels for participants to sign their name. 

The festivities continue later in the day with the U&I Dash Festival from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm at Klyde Warren Park. There will be fun activities for the whole family with DJ Sober mixing live alongside a full line-up of amazing musicians, the McDonald’s Midway featuring games, face painting and interactive activities; culinary delights and spirits by Mi Cocina; live art demonstrations by local artists and items for sale by Dallas-makers and brands in the Shop Local Lane. 

The lineup of performing artists include DJ Sober, Dorrough, Tay Money, Lil Earl, Ash Tag, Carrissa Cruz, Muriel, EJ Galvez, DJ Ari, and Mayta. 

Explore the “Redefining Disabilities Experience” immersive art show and experience the Michaels Creativity Zone featuring the Rise Up Live Art Show and Inspiration Stations. Admission to the family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. Donations are suggested to help U&I fulfill its mission of supporting members of our community with disabilities. 

Visual artists featured at the event are Magdiel Lopez, Temi Coker, Carlos Donjuan, Kyle Steed, Dora Zeneth Reynosa, Mariel Guzman, Agustin Chavez aka Dummy Fresh, Hatziel, and Drigo. Each artist is donating their work to be auctioned off to the public with proceeds going to U&I.

Event sponsors include NAI Robert Lynn, Mi Cocina, Michaels, Kumar/McDonald’s, Klyde Warren Park, Veritex Community Bank, Park Place Dealerships, SPCA of Texas, The Box Company, Artwork 10, Interior Runway, and Pink Porch Productions. 

In 1951, Jean Walker Bentley overcame cultural barriers and spoke out for disabled children and their families. She started the Children’s Development Center to meet the scholastic and socialization needs of children with special needs. In 1981, the federal government mandated that public schools had the responsibility to educate children with disabilities. The organization evolved to help veterans find employment and provide vocational training for special education students preparing to transition out of high school.

Today, as one of the largest workforce development centers in North Texas, U&I continues to meet the needs of disabled individuals by providing vocational training, job readiness training, paid work opportunities and community placement to more than 1000 youth and adults with severe intellectual, physical and/or mental health disabilities. More information about U&I is available at uandispreadthelight.com.

# # #

Texans have loved the crispy goodness of the Texas T-Brand Tacos® at DQ® restaurants in the Lone Star state for decades as a beloved culinary tradition. And, while DQ restaurants in Texas will continue to serve up the classic-style tacos, they’ve upped the ante for those who savor a little more fire. Introducing the Carolina Reaper Taco®, available only at DQ restaurants in Texas. 

The Carolina Reaper Taco combines the intense heat of a thousand Texas summers with a sizzling lightning bolt from a West Texas storm, then finishes it off with the kick of a wild mustang to create the spicy deliciousness of the Carolina Reaper Taco. 

Each taco starts with a crispy corn shell filled with Carolina Reaper-infused Monterey Jack cheese, seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes. The tacos are topped off with a cool cilantro lime crema sauce to complete the legendary flavor of the Carolina Reaper Taco. 

Think you can handle it? The crispy Carolina Reaper Taco is so hot, it can only be found in Texas while supplies last at all participating DQ restaurants in Texas.

For the ultimate cool down, fans can pair the Carolina Reaper Taco with an iconic DQ Blizzard® Treat, float, shake, sundae, cone, Dilly® Bar, or DQ Sandwich Treat. It’s the perfect combination for dine-in, take-out or delivery where available. 

For a limited time, existing and new users of the DQ Texas mobile app can receive a free small Blizzard Treat (any flavor) with an order of three Carolina Reaper Tacos. App users simply enjoy the scrumptious Carolina Reaper Tacos between February 26 – March 3 and app users will earn a free Blizzard Treat that can be redeemed March 4 – March 10. 

For more than 75 years, DQ restaurants in Texas have been friendly, gathering spots where fans enjoy delicious treats and eats and create fond memories. To be the first to learn about Blizzard of the Month flavors, new product news from the Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council or find a store location, follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook or visit dqtexas.com.

There are few brands as iconic as the DQ brand. Innovative DQ treats and eats, along with the unique DQ restaurant concepts, have positioned DQ restaurants in Texas as a leader in the quick service restaurant industry. The Texas Dairy Queen Operators' Council is a nonprofit organization made up of DQ franchisees operating in Texas. The Council develops the advertising and marketing program for DQ franchisees in Texas and controls the Texas Country Foods menu along with managing supply/distribution for the nearly 600 DQ restaurants in Texas. The DQ restaurants in Texas are franchised by American Dairy Queen Corporation and the DQ franchise system includes approximately 7,000 franchised locations in the United States, Canada, and more than 20 other countries, including the nearly 600 DQ restaurants in Texas.