The Missoula Marathon is giving back.
On Monday it was announced that Run Wild Missoula will be contributing a total of $23,000 to a variety of community groups.
As one of four choices under the Missoula Marathon race cancellation, participants were given the option of donating their race fees back to the race. The intent was that Run Wild Missoula, who owns and produces the Missoula Marathon, would share these donations with several local organizations.
Each of the cross country programs at Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel high schools will be awarded $1,000. The Missoula Food Bank, Missoula Youth Homes and Opportunity Resources will each receive $5,000. Run Wild Missoula will retain $5,000 for future 2020 giving opportunities.
“We were amazed by the generosity exhibited by our participants” Tony Banovich, the Executive Director of Run Wild Missoula, said in a news release. “After the sad days following the cancellation of marathon weekend, it was very uplifting to be able to help support such a wide variety of needs in the Missoula community.”
The Missoula Marathon was scheduled to take place the weekend of June 26-28. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the decision to cancel the race was announced on May 7. The 2021 race weekend is scheduled for June 25-27 and already over 2,300 participants have chosen to defer their entry to the 2021 event.
