Every May, the community gathers for a 5K and kids run called the Dalton Dash. The event is far more than a race — it is a celebration of a legacy that continues to inspire a generation of young changemakers.
The race honors Dalton Fox, a former Trantwood Elementary student diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2018.
Following a brave battle that included a leg amputation and multiple remissions, Dalton passed away on May 25, 2021. In his memory, the Fox family, including Trantwood’s school nurse Jen Fox, established D-Feet Cancer, a nonprofit that has since raised more than $740,000 for childhood cancer research.
Beyond the incredible fundraising, Dalton’s impact lives on through his classmates. Now attending academies and schools throughout the city, these students continue to champion his cause.
On Memorial Day weekend, former classmate Rowan Smith is partnering with the foundation to host the first annual “Spikeball for D-Feet” tournament.
That same spirit was on full display at this year’s Dalton Dash.
Trantwood alumni from Virginia Beach Middle, Ocean Lakes, Kellam, Cox, Kempsville and First Colonial high schools volunteered—designing the race shirt, serving as course marshals , photographing the day, selling merchandise and handing out water to runners.
The school also hosts a blood drive with the Red Cross each year in his honor. Alongside current Trantwood students, this network of youth is learning firsthand what it means to create meaningful change, keeping Dalton’s memory alive with every step.
