Bridgefest 5000 5K Run/Walk

Friday June 14, 2019 – 7:00pm – Race Start at Quincy St and Scott St, Hancock, MI – Race Finish at Bridgeview Park, Houghton, MI

Come and run or walk with or in front of your family, friends, and neighbors.  We are proud to honor the memory of Thatcher Markham with this 5K run/walk event that supports 31 Backpacks in their mission to combat childhood hunger in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.  Thatcher's family and our community tragically lost Thatcher at 12 years old as a victim of the 2018 Father's Day flood in northern Houghton County. His memory has lived on though many local events and remembrances and this race is another way to make sure he is never forgotten by everyone in the Copper Country.  It is also fitting that remembering Thatcher will help us with assisting children in our area that need help.  31 Backpacks helps less-fortunate schoolchildren in the local area by anonymously providing food and essential items to get them through the weekends and breaks when they are not in school.

This race is your only opportunity to run/walk through downtown Hancock and Houghton and over the Portage Lake Lift Bridge on closed streets.  The running race and non-competitive walk (5K, 3.1 miles) precedes the 2019 Bridgefest parade – starting at the west end of downtown Hancock and finishing in downtown Houghton.  You can participate in this event and not miss the parade too!  The finish will be in Bridgeview Park, just a block off the parade route.

This will be a first-class event with T-Shirts for all participants, professional chip timing and results, an accurate distance with mile splits, overall and age group awards, and safe race conditions.  Not to mention probable great weather and an awesome time racing in front of a huge crowd!

Add to your Bridgefest experience with a fun, fitness-oriented event.  Support a great cause and remember a fine young man.  Set a goal, challenge yourself, and enjoy the comradery of your community both on the course and lining both sides of the street as you go by.  This is a great warm-up event to prep for the Canal Run in Hancock (July 20, 2019).