The Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason program offers two main ways to participate and support Friends For Life. You can either Fundraise for Registration, where you raise funds directly for Friends For Life to secure your entry, or you can Donate for Registration, which guarantees your spot in the race with a $350 donation. Donating automatically qualifies you for the first level of HERO benefits, but anyone who raises enough can achieve HERO status. Explore the options below to see how you can get involved.

Q: What’s the difference between running as an individual vs. running for a charity?

When you run as an individual, you sign up and pay a registration fee. The registration fee is $140 for a marathon, $125 for a half marathon, and $35 for a 5K. When you run for a registered charity, the organization will pay your registration fee. In return, you commit to raising money for the charity. You commit to raise $500 if you run for the marathon or the half marathon, or $250 if you participate in the 5K. The minimums are decided by the Chevron Marathon committee and apply to all “Run for a Reason” nonprofits.

Q: What’s the difference between “Fundraise for registration” vs. “Donate for registration?”

If you don’t want to fundraise, you can join a nonprofit team with a donation. A marathon runner makes a one-time tax-deductible donation of $490 to join a team, while a half marathon donates $475. The amounts are decided by the Chevron Marathon committee and apply to all “Run for a Reason” nonprofits.

Q: How do I sign up to run with Friends For Life?

1: Go to our page: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/teams/friends-for-life-5?partner=a8bd84130a475ab2688c

2: Click “Participate with this charity”

3: Select “Fundraise for registration.” Or, if you have more money than time, pick “Donate for registration.”

Q: The form is confusing. Can somebody help me sign up?

Absolutely! Please email run@friends4life.org and one of our people will contact you to walk you through the questions.

Q: What do I get for being part of the team?

We are thrilled to welcome every new runner or walker! In addition to helping animals, you also get a support group! When you join our Running Team Facebook group, runners exchange training tips and tools. If you are in Houston, we have a practice run every Monday at 7:15 pm, starting at the shelter parking lot. You get a team shirt, a periodic email from our Running Team lead, and are invited to runners’ socials.

Q: How do I raise money?

When you sign up, you create your participant account and a fundraising page. You can customize your fundraising page with photos, animal stories, or personal goals. You then share this link with your friends and relatives when asking for their support.  

Q: Is it hard to raise $500 or $250?

It depends on your network. However, most of our runners have no problems meeting the goals.

Q: What are Hero perks?

Once you fundraise or donate $350 or above, you are considered a HERO runner! click here to learn more about becoming a HERO.

Q: Are there deadlines to meet the fundraising goal?

The fundraising milestone: all runners are asked to raise $175 by December 1, 2024, to show their engagement. The final fundraising deadline is January 31, 2025. That is two weeks after the marathon event. Many runners use their event photos to raise money.