Super Bowl Fun Run 2024- Tackling Pediatric Cancer * IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL RUN OPTIONS *

For race updates and information visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LightWellFoundation

Please like and share our Facebook page to encourage your family and friends to join us at the event! We cannot wait to see you there! 

The mission of this event and LightWell is to tackle pediatric cancer as a community. 

Lightwell arose out of a unique bond between three families forged in their shared experience of fighting for the lives of their children diagnosed with pediatric cancer, far from the support and beauty of their homes in the Gallatin Valley of Montana.  They met in the hallways of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Oncology Unit in early 2012.  While each child faced a different form of cancer, these children, along with their parents, possessed a resolve to fight. 

Since 2012, Lightwellhas provided support for 16 Gallatin Valley families, with a strong mission: to financially support Gallatin County families whose child has received a cancer diagnosis, to provide peer support by connecting local families whose children have or have had cancer, and to support pediatric cancer research.

To learn more about the Lightwell Foundation click: https://www.thebozeman3.org/

If you would like to further support the families within Gallatin Valley that are fighting pediatric cancer, please click HERE to donate directly Lightwell

Lightwell Thinks These Organizations Are Pretty Cool - Check Them Out!

Make-A-Wish Montana:

Together with support from donors and volunteers across our state, Make-A-Wish Montana has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening critical illnesses through its life-changing work granting wishes. This hope-giving experience is a vital part of the healing process and has a scientifically proven positive impact on children’s medical situations, their families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and their entire community. Wishes are more than just a nice thing – they are a game-changer for a child with a critical illness. This one belief guides us in everything we do at Make-A-Wish Montana. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve. It compels us to be creative in exceeding the expectations of every wish kid. It drives us to make our donated resources go as far as possible. Most of all, it's the founding principle of our vision to grant the wish of every eligible child. Wishes are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. The impact varies. For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all that they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy. Whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles … wishes make the world better. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Help spread hope in Montana by visiting www.montana.wish.org and follow the incredible stories of wish kids in your community!

 
Be The Match:

Register to be someone’s cure and save a life! Be The Match is a national non-profit organization that manages a bone marrow registry for cancer patients.  It may sound scary, but don’t go yet!  Similarly to others, the words “marrow donation” may freak you out. Don’t worry. You’re not alone! However, IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. In fact, over 90% of people polled about marrow donation accept certain myths and misconceptions as the truth. The fact is, donating bone marrow is not anywhere near as frightening as most people assume.  Many people describe the donation process as a feeling of soreness, much like one would feel after a day at the gym.  Furthermore, thousands of patients with blood cancers and other life-threatening diseases need a marrow transplant to survive. Unfortunately, 70% of patients do not have a fully matched donor in their family. That is when patients depend on Be The Match to make a difference. YOU COULD BE THE HERO THEY NEED. By joining the Be The Match Registry, your tissue type will be included in the search process for every patient in need. To join the national bone marrow registry, all you must do is complete an informational form and swab your cheek. The process is quick and completely painless!   To find out more information about Be The Match, please stop by their booth at the event.  To register online or find out more information about Be The Match click HERE. 

Montana Hope Project:

The Montana Hope Project began in 1984 when a handful of Montana Highway Patrol Officers reached out to a couple of kids with life-threatening illnesses. They dug into their own pockets, borrowed a van, and took the kids and their families on a trip to Glacier Par.  Today, the Montana Hope Project is a separate non-profit organization funded by tax-deductible charitable contributions. The Hope Project does not receive tax support and is not associated with any national wish-granting organization.  Sponsored by the Association of Montana Troopers, the Montana Hope Project originated from the strong desire of Troopers to offer a special and unique service to the communities they served. Granting wishes to Montana children as proven to be a rewarding endeavor and has had a positive impact on those involved with the Hope Project. Granting wishes, hosting reunions and our fund-raising events offer comfort and encouragement to families facing difficult circumstances and bring communities together in support of their neighbors. Those involved know first-hand the special meaning of the smile on a child’s face when they receive their wish.  The goal of the Hope Project is to make dreams come true for critically ill children in Montana. The conditions the children face typically require medical intervention and physically, emotionally, and financially drain the children and their families.  Ninety percent of all proceeds from fund-raisers, corporate and private donors, and memorials go directly to wishes for Montana children. The average wish granted costs about $8,800, and the most requested wish is a trip to Walt Disney World.  To learn more click HERE

Love Your Melon:

Love Your Melon is an apparel brand run by college students dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in the nation. Half of LYM's proceeds go to our nonprofit, cancer fighting partners such as Be The Match, CureSearch, Pinky Swear Foundation, among many others. Montana State's crew is a group of hard-working college students focused on a common goal of defeating pediatric cancer. Our crew is dedicated to spreading the mission in fun ways and supporting families in the Gallatin Valley who are dealing with this terrible disease. Supporting Montana State University's LYM crew allows this group of students to host fun events for local kids with cancer. Shop Love Your Melon by clicking HERE.

This race was founded by the creative mind of Megan Maynard - an MSU graduate and current student at Marquette University School of Dentistry. Megan served as the Event Director for 3 years, spearheading all the hard work necessary to make this a successful annual event, before moving to Wisconsin for dental school. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Megan for her generosity, thoughtfulness, time, energy, creativity, conviction, and compassion for Lighrwell and the families in Gallatin Valley whose children are fighting cancer. 

Additionally, we are indebted to Mike Hope with the Rocking R Bar, Casey Jermyn and Lauren Murchison with The Bozeman Running Company,  the Pre-Dental Club, National Health Preprofessional Honors Society (AED), and to Anna Yardley with Hail Mary's. We also would like to thank Doug and Stana with Loneman Photography who also has always graciously captured amazing photos the day of the event! Thank you to all our additional sponsers listed in this registration! We could not do this without YOU!