The RUN FOR KIDS CHALLENGE was our first race ever to put on, back in 2011. That year, the race was held at Veteran's Park in Hoover, by Spain Park High School. The race was on Memorial Day weekend and the high reached over 100 deg. that day. There was a lot of carnage!

I did the RIDE OF LOVE in about 2008.The ride is 150 miles from Tuscaloosa to Children's Harbor on Lake Martin. We arrived during a Smile-A-Mile family camp. That year riders raised over $70,000 dollars for Camp SAM, as it was called then. There were people and kids everywhere when we arrived and we didn't know which were kids with cancer and which were family. When we presented the check, all the cancer survivors gathered around. Seeing all those kids, probably 25 or 30 from 6 or 8 years of age to 15 or 16 was heart breaking. At a time in their lives when the biggest problem in their life should have getting tomorrows homework done, the had been through a struggle for their lives. I had waned to do more for Smile-A-Mile after that and in 2011 we started the Run for Kids. I never kept up with total donations we have been able to make through the RFK but I am pretty sure we pass $100,000 several years ago. Some years we were able raise as much as $18,000 in additional donations from runners.

Smile-A-Mile’s mission is to provide hope, healing of the spirit and love for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey. Through year-round meaningful and educational programming, Smile-A-Mile helps those in Alabama who are affected by childhood cancer thrive during treatment and the years beyond. Learn what Smile-A-Mile is all about at "Smile-A-Mile.com"

Run for Kids donates 100% of race proceeds, beyond basic expenses (shirts, awards and food - and we try to get those donated) to Smile-A-Mile. We encourage runners to raise additional donations.

The Run for Kids 12 Hour and 10K

The Run for Kids takes place at Oak Mountain State Park. The run will start at the Cedar Pavilion, located at the south end of Double Oak Lake, the swimming and canoeing lake. The pavilion is deep in the woods behind the large parking lot at the end of Terrace Drive. Both races will start at 7:00 AM. Banners to the RACE START will be located along Findley Dr. and up to Terrace Dr.

New for 2024 - The KIDS HALF

The Kids Half will be a 1/2 mile race for kids. The Kids Half will start after the 10K runners finish. The Kids Half is presented by Dr. Beau Beard, and approved by Dr. Sloan Beard and Family. The run is Sponsored by The F.A.R.M. “Functional Athletic Rehabilitation & Movement.” There is no entry fee for the Kids Half. Just show up and run. We would appreciate donations to Smile-A-Mile.

The Run for Kids Course

The course is a 3.4 mile loop. 10K runners will complete two laps of the course to finish. 12 Hour Challenge runners will continue lapping the course for 10.5 hours. At 10.5 hours, runners will switch to a short 0.82 mile lap. At 11hours, 45 minutes, runners will again change laps to a 0.20 mile lap. The gun will end the race at exactly 12 hours. Runners must pass under the arch each lap, or the lap will not be counted.

The run will start on the road in front of the Cedar Pavilion. Runners will follow the road heading north past the playground. Continue along the footpath along the lake to where the path “Ts” into the sidewalk and go left. Do not enter the parking lot. Follow the sidewalk toward the lake to where the sidewalk goes right and along the beach area. Continue straight ahead past the beach area, through the pavilions and onto a paved road.

Follow the road along the lake to where it curves to the right. Signs will direct you off the road to the left and down a short hill and across a boat launch. Follow flags across the grass by the marina to Terrace Drive. Follow Terrace Dr, staying in the bike lane on the left side of the road over the lake. Go left on the Lake Trail as it winds around the lake and comes out on the dam.

Cross the dam and continue on the trail the length of the lake. DO NOT go right onto the Rattlesnake Ridge bike trail. The Lake Trail will eventually reaches a trail leading off the right at the south end of the lake. Follow that trail past the Cedar Pavilion and take a sharp left at the first trail leading back to the pavilion. This is the end of the first lap. The aid station is located at the pavilion as you come out of the woods. Continue through the arch after the aid station and repeat the lap continuing straight ahead following flags and signs.

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