Charity Partners

Add More Meaning to Your Miles

At Grandma’s Marathon, we believe in the power of transformation. As an individual, you will embark on an incredible journey that starts the day you register and continues until the moment you cross the finish line.

Our Charity Partners program offers you a chance to share that life-changing experience with others. By becoming an official charity runner, you can make a difference in someone else’s life while transforming your own.

You can make a difference, in your life and beyond.

  • $200K Raised Last Year

    Our official Charity Runners helped raise more than $200,000 for 19 different organizations during the 2022 Grandma's Marathon weekend.

  • $2M+ Raised Since 2015

    Since 2015, our Charity Partners program has helped raise more than $2 million for various organizations across the upper Midwest and throughout the country.

Who Can Participate?
Anyone interested in running either Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, or the William A. Irvin 5K can participate as a Charity Runner.

Entries & Fundraising Guidelines
Each of our official Charity Partner organizations has a limited number of entries into each of our three weekend races. Additionally, each Charity Partner is responsible for recruiting its own runners and developing its own fundraising goals and guidelines.

Contacting The Charities
If you’re interested in becoming a Charity Runner, reach out directly via phone or email to one of the participating organizations. If you do not hear back within three (3) business days, please contact our Program Manager Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected].

Fundraising
To be accepted as a Charity Runner, you must commit to the fundraising goal set by your partner organization. You will have access to a fundraising page on Race Roster that can be personalized and shared with prospective donors. NOTE: Some Charity Partners use their own platforms to collect funds and may provide you alternative instructions for your fundraising.

Register for the Race
Once you have raised the minimum amount as agreed upon at the beginning, your partner organization will distribute specific registration instructions so you can officially enter the race. If you’ve reached the minimum fundraising amount, you will also receive a promo code that will waive the race entry fee.

NOTE: Any additional registration options or fees associated with the runner’s failure to follow registration instructions or use the promo code correctly will not be reimbursed.

2023 Charity Partner Organizations

ALS Association

American Cancer Society

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Children’s Minnesota

Girls on the Run – Minnesota

Josh Hove Memorial Mission Coffeehouse

LUNGevity

Make-A-Wish Minnesota

Minnesota Head & Neck Cancer Foundation

Move for Hunger

Project Purple

Ronald McDonald House Charities – Upper Midwest

Ruff Start Rescue

Scleroderma Foundation

Special Olympics – Minnesota

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)

Young Athletes Foundation 

Fitger's 5K History

The Fitger’s 5K began in 1990 and over more than three decades has now become Duluth’s premier spring running event.

The 3.1-mile race traditionally starts and finishes in front of the historic Fitger’s building. The scenic race course takes participants through downtown Duluth and Canal Park.

Below are the all-time Fitger’s 5K race records and winners from each year. NOTE: Some early records are incomplete and our staff is working to retrieve those dating back to 1990.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

Free parking for the event is available in the parking ramp located next to Fitger’s.

Fitger’s Complex
600 E. Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802

2022 Fitger's 5K Race Packet Pickup Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Swag Items

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.