Ready to run year three of the Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union? We can hardly wait!

Why Run THIS Race?

When you sign up for the Gresham Lilac Run presented by Unitus Community Credit Union, ALL race proceeds go directly to Family of Friends Mentoring. This group is a local non-profit that works with kids and families all over East Multnomah County by pairing kids with volunteer adult mentors. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that kids who have more positive adults in their lives are more successful in work, play, life and love.   Unfortunately, kids and families from low-income backgrounds often have less access to the healthy adult attention they desire. Family of Friends focuses on creating a community of adult support around kids to help them thrive.  Through individual and family-style mentoring,  volunteers partner with parent/guardians to spend time once a week with a young person, doing fun activities of their choice. Through these weekly activities,  mentors encourage kids to become future-oriented, build grit and persistence, and learn to integrate their emotions with their interpersonal skills. Even more, kids build a trusted relationship with another adult outside school and home, who is on their team.

Each course will begin and end at Main City Park with our signature community celebration including post-race beer or punch, coffee and pancakes! Course maps and details will be coming soon. The 5K event will be held on Saturday, May 8 and the 10K and half marathon on Sunday, May 9. We are taking these measures to best accommodate socially distanced safety precautions.

As of 11/18/20 we plan to host this event in person following whatever state guidelines and restrictions will be set by the State of Oregon, the City of Gresham and the Oregon Health Authority. Notification of this event switching to a virtual event will take place April 1, 2021. Full refunds will NOT be granted. Partial refunds will be refunded to each participant based on their course length.

5K participants will receive a $5 refund.
10K participants will receive a $10 refund.
Half marathon participants will receive a $15 refund.

All funds are donated directly to race beneficiary, Family of Friends Mentoring. Participants can opt out of refunds and choose to keep all funding with the race beneficiary.