Costumes for a Cause 5K Run

Run. Walk. Dress Up. Put Hope Within Reach.

Grab your costume, gather your friends, and join us for the inaugural Costumes for a Cause 5K, benefiting Teen Challenge of Southwest Florida.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Coconut Point in Estero, Florida. This family-friendly fundraiser will bring together runners, walkers, families, churches, businesses, and community supporters for a morning of fitness, costumes, and fun—all while helping individuals and families find freedom from addiction and other life-controlling problems.

Race Day Details

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Coconut Point, Estero, Florida
Distances: 5K & 1 Mile
Beneficiary: Teen Challenge of Southwest Florida

The 5K will be professionally timed, while the 1 Mile provides an additional option for families, walkers, and participants looking for a shorter distance.

This Is Not Your Ordinary 5K

Participants are encouraged to come dressed in costume and have fun with it.

Go funny, creative, colorful, outrageous, or completely over the top. Run by yourself, coordinate costumes with a friend, or bring the whole family dressed around one theme.

Costumes are not required, but they are strongly encouraged.

Special costume awards will be presented for:

• Best Male Costume

• Best Female Costume

• Best Pair or Couple

• Best Family or Group

• Best Pet Costume

Costumes should be safe, family-friendly, and suitable for completing the 5K or 1 Mile course.

Participants are responsible for making sure costumes do not block vision, restrict movement, or create a hazard for other runners and walkers.

More Than Just Miles

Participants can expect more than a trip around the course.

Race morning will include music, entertainment, refreshments, activities, and Halloween-themed fun around the start and finish area.

After crossing the finish line, stick around for the costume contest, race awards, music, refreshments, and post-race activities.

Costumes will be judged based on:

• Creativity

• Originality

• Effort

• Overall presentation

You can race for a fast time, compete for an incredible costume, or do both.

5K Race Awards

Overall Awards

1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Overall Male

1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Overall Female

Overall awards will be determined by Gun Time.

Age Group Awards

Age group awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Male and Female in each age group.

Age group awards will be determined by Net Chip Time.

Age Groups:

0–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70+

Costume awards are separate from race awards, which means you can compete for a fast finish, an incredible costume, or both.

Run or Walk

The Costumes for a Cause 5K and 1 Mile are open to runners and walkers of all ages and ability levels.

Competitive runners can race the 5K, while families, groups, and casual participants are welcome to enjoy either distance at their own pace.

Strollers are welcome.

Well-behaved pets may also participate but must remain leashed and under their owner's control at all times.

For everyone's safety, participants with strollers or pets should begin toward the back of the starting area.

Race Course

The official 5K and 1 Mile course maps will be added soon.

Please check back as race day approaches for finalized course maps and additional course information.

Packet Pickup

Packet pickup information will be announced as race day approaches.

Registered participants should check the race website and pre-race emails for finalized packet pickup dates, times, and locations.

More Than a Race

At Teen Challenge, our mission is to provide teens, adults, and families with freedom from substance abuse and other life-controlling problems through Christ-centered, faith-based solutions.

Our vision is:

To Put Hope Within Reach Through the Power of Jesus Christ

Teen Challenge goes beyond short-term sobriety.

Through long-term residential care, biblical discipleship, prayer, mentoring, practical life-skills training, work development, and a supportive Christian community, individuals are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and practically.

Our goal is not simply sobriety, but lasting life transformation.

Supporting Teen Challenge of Southwest Florida

Families searching for help for a son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, or other loved one often discover that many programs focus only on short-term treatment.

What is often missing is a structured, long-term residential environment where individuals can fully step away from unhealthy influences and focus on rebuilding their lives.

Teen Challenge of Southwest Florida provides Christ-centered residential programs for individuals seeking freedom from addiction and other life-controlling issues.

Through biblical instruction, prayer, discipleship, mentoring, accountability, life-skills development, and practical training, participants are equipped to:

• Grow spiritually

• Develop healthy habits

• Rebuild relationships

• Develop practical life skills

• Prepare to return to their families and communities with purpose

Your participation in Costumes for a Cause helps make this work possible.

Every registration, sponsorship, donation, and team formed helps Teen Challenge continue serving individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida and putting hope within reach for those who need it most.

Form a Team

Everything is more fun with a group—especially costumes.

Get your family, friends, coworkers, school, church, gym, club, or organization together and coordinate a group costume.

Teams can build around a shared theme, challenge another group to participate, or simply come together to support a worthwhile local cause.

Join Us

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 17, 2026, and start planning your costume now.

Come run. Come walk. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Dress up, have fun, and help support lives being transformed through Teen Challenge of Southwest Florida.

Run. Walk. Dress Up. Make a Difference.

Together, We Can Put Hope Within Reach.