Big Cheese 5K

Athol Community Runs for Better Fitness: Big Cheese 5K Funds YMCA Gym Upgrades

Annual 5K event to fund critical renovations and equipment for Main Street and Orange locations, and we need your help!

The Health & Wellness department has taken strides to expand, upgrade, and modernize YMCA gym locations in both Athol and Orange. 

Athol, Mass. April 11, 2026 – Our Big Cheese 5K race is just around the corner, and we’re confident that this year’s race will be bigger than ever as we enter our 16th year of racing for food, fun, and fitness! We have been amazed and so grateful for the continued growth of this great event, held in conjunction with the River Rat Canoe Race. We are excited to announce that race registration is now open, along with our donation page! Signing up for the race is easy here on RunSignUp.com

This year, we are raising funds to make exciting, much-needed improvements to our facilities, including a gym floor in our Main Street Gym, upgrading and expanding our Orange location, and adding new equipment and Healthy Living programs at both locations. The YMCA is a non-profit organization that partly relies on the community for continued support, which, in turn, can give back to the community by offering supportive, fun, and exciting healthy living activities such as the LiveStrong program (a supportive program to build back strength and spirit for cancer survivors), yoga, childcare, senior citizen exercise programs, swimming lessons, sports, weightlifting and so much more! 

As we gear up for the 2026 race, we are seeking your support. Donations will help offset the event's costs, including SecondWind Timing and competitive prizes for age-group awards and other categories. Not only does this strengthen our event and community, but it also allows all of our race registrations to go directly to the important facility updates and community-strengthening causes we support. Please consider how you can help this year!

Please consider contributing your tax-deductible donation today by tapping "Donate" below.