Thank you so much for your interest in supporting the First Annual Run for Those Who Can’t. Below is a description of who we are, and what we’re trying to accomplish. The goal for this race is to have 500 runners, which would make it one of the largest first year events in the upstate, but with the community that we have here, this could be easily done with proper word of mouth and promotion of this across our networks.
My Story:

Once upon a time, I was a rising freshman in high school with my first track season under my belt. I was discovering my love for the gift of running in my life. All of a sudden my daily tradition of running 4 miles in the morning, got tougher and tougher, because I felt like my lungs were closing in on me. Eventually my condition deteriorated to the point where in JV football I got caught from behind on a running play because I was out of breath. My mind went blank and my mom had to rush me to the locker room where I used my nebulizer to get me back breathing again.

That next week I saw a lung Doctor who told me that the scarring in my lungs had my blood oxygen efficiency right around 50%, or the equivalent of having only one lung. He said that every time I was going for a run longer than a mile that it was scarring up my lungs worse, and that I may never compete at the same level in my running again.

This news crushed me because running was one of the things that I had grown to love so dearly. Matter fact, it crushed me so much that I sent my first prayer up to God. Without hesitation I asked Him, “Lord, I have squandered a gift that you have given me. If you give me a second chance, I promise I will do it for you.

Two weeks later, I go back to see the lung doctor after getting on a good controller medicine for my condition. To the doctor’s surprise, 99% of the scaring in my lung tissue had disappeared. The doctor didn’t want to call it a miracle, but he was smiling ear to ear and told me, “ looks like you can lace up your shoes again!” I WAS HEALED!!

Now here we are 13 years later and ever since this moment, God has opened up the doors for me everywhere I look where running has been a common theme. I have met literally thousands of people, shared many miles, laughs, smiles, and even spread the gospel through just simply putting one foot in front of the other.
I wanted to share the story with you because running has literally changed my life and has been one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever experienced. Now, in order to keep my promise to God after he answered my prayer, not only do I run each day for Him and for those who can’t, but I want to have the community join me in raising money to go towards ending two horrible diseases that keep millions of people each year from running or even standing on their own 2 feet. Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer.

Race Mission:

The goal of this race is to bring the community together in awareness for childhood cancer and cystic fibrosis. Together we will raise $50,000 to work towards putting an end to these horrible diseases.

The Event:

This will be a 5K Road race that will start from the Northwestern Mutual building in downtown with a loop around the Commons on the swamp rabbit before returning back to the start. (goal is to have this course be is flat and fast as possible.) There will also be a virtual option for this race. For those who are out of town or still want to support the cause.

We are targeting Saturday April 13th 2024 at 8 AM as race day. (Tentative) And we will have room for roughly 10-15 corporate sponsor tents in our parking lot.
Right now based upon the race being downtown, we have the following sponsorship levels and their benefits to get us to our total goal of $50k

$1500 Name Sponsor
There will be 10-15 name sponsors for this race. Each will get 5 free entries, a tent space to either pass out merchandise or talk with runners, appearance on the back of the race T-shirt, inclusion in our sponsorship list, and a 1 time feature on LinkedIn and Facebook for promotion leading up to the race.

$500-$1499 Adopt a Sign/ Mile Marker
These sponsors will get three free entries, three signs that will go on the race course, and the three highest donations in this category will have a mile marker with their logo on them.

$100-$500 Simple Donation
This level of donation will get a mention, if requested on the donation section of the race program and a digital copy on the race website/social media page.

Early bird special on the race will be $25 if registered before January 1, $33 if registered before race day, and $44 for day of registration.
The virtual option will be $20.

Also, anyone with cystic fibrosis or are cancer survivors, will get a discounted rate to enter at $10 for early bird, or $17 after.

To the front of the race should be pretty competitive with a total purse of $500.

$100 1st OA male/ female$75 2nd place$50 3rd place$25 for 1st OA Masters male/female) but all level of competition is encouraged.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions. I’m excited to partner with you and look forward to seeing everyone out there!

Alex Dahlstrom
843 303 4187
[email protected]