Kansas City runners braved 50-degree rain in their underwear Saturday for the annual Cupid's Undie Run, raising $22,000 for neurofibromatosis research. The event, organized by the Children's Tumor Foundation, drew about 100 participants who partied at Q Kansas City before running a one-mile route through Westport.

The charity run has become a Valentine's Day tradition in over 30 cities nationwide, collectively raising $1 million this year. Participants stripped down to show solidarity with NF patients, a genetic disorder affecting 1 in 2,500 people that causes skin pigmentation and tumors on nerve tissue. The Kansas City run director described the underwear concept as a way to relate to the discomfort experienced by those fighting the disease.

For Shawnee residents Lindsey and Hannah Dubey, the cause hits close to home as their 17-year-old son Eli battles type two NF, schwannomatosis. The couple sees the event as both a fundraiser and awareness builder, noting that while many participants view it as a party, learning about NF motivates them to spread information. After two hours of pre-run festivities including an open bar and photo ops, runners hit the streets with Kansas City police blocking traffic on Westport Road.