RUN FOR A REASON
Run for a Reason is the Eugene Marathon’s charity initiative to raise $150,000 for local and national charities. The program provides participating charities the ability to utilize the event as a catalyst for fundraising, while also providing individuals the ability to not only run the Marathon, Half Marathon or Eugene 5K, but to do it for a reason. Join a 2024 charity team today!
2024 charity teams
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington
UPDATE: Team RMHC is Full for 2024!
At Ronald McDonald House Charities, we are thrilled to have a dynamic and diverse group of runners who are motivated to use their passion for running at the Eugene Marathon to help kids. With community runs, coaching plans, challenges, and a kid-captain to inspire you, your whole race experience will be more fulfilling than ever.
Most importantly, as you fundraise and raise awareness about Ronald McDonald House Charities, you help RMHC provide families with sick children access to vital medical services and resources. Check out our team highlights from the 2022 Eugene Marathon. If you are interested in running for RMHC, register here today: rmhcoregon.org/marathon
A Family for Every Child
UPDATE: Team AFFEC is Full for 2024!
A Family For Every Child (AFFEC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit adoption agency dedicated to finding a loving, permanent home for every child currently waiting in foster care. AFFEC specializes in serving the children most vulnerable in our current foster system: teenagers, minorities, LGBTQIA2S+ youth, sibling groups, and children with disabilities or other special considerations. Through our additional programs, we provide mentors for at-risk kids, housing for homeless teenagers, resources for caseworkers and foster children, and hope for families struggling to adopt a child. To join A Family for Every Child’s team, visit runforareasonforaffec.causevox.com
Girls on the Run
UPDATE: Team Girls On The Run is Full for 2024!
Girls on the Run – Greater Oregon is a nonprofit organization with programs designed to strengthen 3rd–8th grade girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences.
We believe that ALL GIRLS are born with power and purpose. Using a fun, research-based curriculum that creatively integrates running, we inspire every girl to reach her limitless potential, not just for the length of our program, but for life. We've empowered thousands of girls in Greater Oregon with the support of runners like you.
You can join Girls on the Run's Run for a Reason team by registering as a SoleMate here.
Parkinson’s Foundation
UPDATE: Team Parkinson’s Foundation is Full for 2024!
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes lives better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. We provide fact-based resources, a toll-free bilingual Helpline, educational events, and a network of Centers of Excellence focused on providing the best possible care.
Parkinson’s Champions participate in the Parkinson’s Foundation community fundraising and endurance programs to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease. Together, Parkinson’s Champions have hosted more than 150 annual community fundraisers across the country, run more than 15,000 miles and raised more than $12 million to help make lives better for people living with Parkinson’s.
To apply to run with our team, please complete our short application survey at Run4PD.org (scroll down to the Eugene Marathon tab). Questions? Contact Zach Orner at Run4PD@Parkinson.org or 763-317-1308.
Relief Nursery
UPDATE: Team Relief Nursery is Full for 2024!
Relief Nursery provides comprehensive support services to Lane County families that are navigating challenges and experiencing a multitude of stressors. The services we offer at no-cost to the families include a Therapeutic Early Childhood Program, respite care, mental health and counseling services, home visiting, parenting education, recovery support, and more! By joining Relief Nursery’s 2024 Eugene Marathon team, you are ensuring families in our community continue to receive these critical services that keep them happy, healthy and together.
To join Relief Nursery’s team, visit reliefnursery.org/eugenemarathon2024
Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley
UPDATE: Team B&G Emerald Valley is Full for 2024!
Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley provides more than 600 kids in Eugene and Springfield a place to shine, a second home, and somewhere safe to grow and learn after school and in the summer. From help with homework to a hot meal and field trips to leadership development, the Club offers kids a variety of life changing programs, fun activities, and caring adults to help them navigate life.
It is our mission to inspire and empower all young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Together, we will reach the next generation of youth who will transform themselves and their communities for the better.
Run with us and run for kids! To join the team, visit www.bgcev.org/run-for-a-reason
Circle of Friends
UPDATE: Team Circle of Friends is Full for 2024!
Circle of Friends was founded in 2018 to provide opportunities to children and youth with complex and severe disabilities. Through resources, support, training, events, education, and a community built on compassion, our mission is to break the cycle of isolation for these individuals and the people who love them.
To join Circle of Friends team, visit https://circleoffriendsschool.org/donate/
CASA
UPDATE: Team is Full for 2024!
Court Appointed Special Advocates, or "CASA", provides a powerful voice for abused and neglected children across Lane County through dedicated community volunteers.
Why is CASA needed? Last year, just under 1,000 children spent at least one night in foster care due to abuse or neglect by their caregivers. Every day, judges decide these children's futures in a court system that is too overburdened to focus adequately on the individual needs of each child.
How does CASA help? CASA volunteers provide prevention and early intervention support and advocacy for the most vulnerable children across Lane County until they are placed in safe, permanent homes. CASA volunteers work to move children through the child welfare and court systems as quickly and safely as possible, to prevent future abuse.
To get started, visit https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/Run4CASA
St. Vincent de Paul Society
UPDATE: Team SVDP is Full for 2024!
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVdP) is Eugene’s largest human-services nonprofit, helping more than 35,000 people annually. We build stability for our most vulnerable neighbors through affordable housing and an array of social services. In 2023, we helped 6,953 individuals with homeless and emergency services; dished up 239,045 meals; kept 119 unhoused families safe and united at our night shelter; supported 501 veterans and their families; and housed more than 2,100 residents in SVdP affordable housing. All of these critical programs are supported by St. Vinnie’s retail-thrift stores, recycling programs, and community support.
Whether you run the 5K, half or full marathon, all of your hard work at the Eugene Marathon will go even further when you run in support of SVdP! Join our team at svdp.us.
Shift Community Cycles
UPDATE: Team Shift is Full for 2024!
Shift Community Cycles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides bicycle access and education to underserved communities in Eugene-Springfield. Founded in 2021, Shift is the only nonprofit bike shop in the area. Through our outreach programs and services, we prioritize empowering early riders in low-income communities within the 4J, Springfield, and Bethel school districts.
By joining Shift’s 2024 Eugene Marathon team, you can directly support our community outreach and youth programs. Will you help us to empower the next generation of cyclists? https://shiftcc.networkforgood.com/projects/219129-shift-community-cycles-eugene-marathon-2024
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation
UPDATE: St. Baldrick’s Foundation is Full for 2024!
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. We invite you to help accelerate the next 25 years to give hope to kids with cancer everywhere. Learn more and join our team today at https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/RunforaReason
Carry it Forward
UPDATE: Team Carry It Forward is Full for 2024!
Carry it Forward is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves Lane County’s unhoused population through direct outreach and sheltering sites. We specialize in helping medically fragile individuals, and provide case management and housing navigation to all participants. Our mission is to end homelessness by providing dignified services that help people obtain their goals. To donate or join our team, visit https://www.carryitforward.net/run-for-a-reason
Rimrock Trails
UPDATE: Team Rimrock Trails is Full for 2024!
Rimrock Trails is on a mission to help individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges live their best lives through timely, compassionate, and effective behavioral health care. Notably, they operate one of just four residential treatment programs in Oregon dedicated to adolescents aged 12-17 with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. In addition, they provide mental health counseling services to persons of all ages in their Bend, Redmond, and Prineville clinics. Your support is truly meaningful and can be directed to Kiefer's Magical Legacy Fund managed by Rimrock Trails, which supports mental health awareness programs, the Rimrock Trails Support Fund, and the Kiefer Leutschaft Memorial Scholarship. Visit https://rimrocktrails.ejoinme.org/RunForKiefer to join the team.
How it works:
Sign up to run for a specific charity team by contacting the team directly and then fundraise the minimum amount or more. Suggested minimum fundraising amounts are:
$250 for the Marathon and Half Marathon
$150 for the Eugene 5K presented by OCCU
Once team members commit to fundraise for a specific charity they will receive a registration code from their charity to cover all registration fees.
Fundraising closes the Saturday after the race
